French rugby amend one law and propose two further changes

The Ligue Nationale de Rugby, in collaboration with the French rugby union, have decided to make two changes for the future, while proposing several law amendments and recommendations to the World Rugby board.

From the 2026/27 season onwards, clubs in the LNR professional competitions will no longer be able to make 12 substitutions per game, reverting to the model in effect until 2018.

For the last seven seasons, teams could make an additional four substitutions for players who had to leave due to a blood injury, HIA, or when a team had to replace a player after a prop/hooker had been sent to the sin bin. The FFR and LNR deemed that it hadn’t benefited the game’s speed in any shape or form.

As for the second law adjustment, the LNR and the FRR will advise World Rugby to decrease the time a kicker has to convert a penalty or a try conversion from 60 to 45 seconds.

While these are the only two changes to be implemented next season, the French rugby union, in line with the professional clubs, the LNR, and the players’ association, are demanding that World Rugby drop the 20-minute red card.

Fixture

Top 14

Pau

05:30

9 May 26

Castres

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The Fédération Française de Rugby stated in its press release that the 20-minute card must be revised immediately.

“Furthermore, French rugby, as a whole and with the unanimous support of all participants, also reaffirmed the importance of opposing the 20-minute red card system as currently used by World Rugby, which, in its view, represents a major threat to the sport.”

The union also advises the game’s main body to make changes to the 20-minute card.

“That the referee be able to issue a 20-minute red card directly on the field; That the bunker be able to issue a final red card; That the name be changed, perhaps even to the orange card.”

France has opposed the 20-minute card from the start, issuing several public statements over the last few years. However, the Top 14 and Pro D2 ultimately adopted the rule, converting it to an orange card, with a total of 27 issued since August 2025.