This year's Six Nations will feature 20-minute red cards for the first time after the law variation was trialled during the November internationals, organisers said. Under the change, some red card offences will see a player sent to the sin bin for 20 minutes with the offender then able to be replaced on the field by a teammate off the bench when the punishment has been completed.

This year's Six Nations will use 20-minute red cards for the first time. The trial was in place for the Autumn Nations Cup in November and has been extended to this year's men's, women's and Under-20s Championships.