White card system returns for Varsity Cup knockouts

Cape Town - Varsity Cup organisers announced on Friday that the white card review system will be utilised during the tournament’s knockout rounds.

It will also be used during the Varsity Shield final.

The white card can be used by either coach or captain to review a decision by the referee, with each team allowed one white card review per half.

Varsity Cup CEO Duitser Bosman explained that the white card rule will not only benefit the tournament but could benefit the game of rugby as a whole.

“We want the right thing to happen, and the team that deserves to win rightfully so within the rules, should win. If we can employ measures that make the results as close to that outcome as possible, we should do it. The white card is inevitable, it should become part of World Rugby’s rules,” said Bosman.

How the White Card review system will work

- Each team will receive two cards marked “Half 1” and Half 2”.
- If the captain wants to review an incident, he will request that the referee show the white card.
- However, the review must be specific, and no general reviews will be allowed.
- Should a coach review an incident, he will ask the TMO to inform the referee of the white card request.
- The coach will then convey his specific referral to the TMO via radio contact.
- Afterwards, the TMO will inform the referee of the challenge, and the referee will then, at the next stoppage of play, raise a white card to indicate that a request for a review was lodged.

Varsity Cup semi-finals:

NWU v UJ
Date: April 2
Venue: Fanie du Toit Sports Grounds, Potchefstroom
Kick-off: 16:30

Maties v Wits
Date: April 2
Venue: Danie Craven Stadium, Stellenbosch
Kick-off: 19:00

Varsity Shield final:

Date: April 9
Venue: UWC Stadium, Belville
Kick-off: 19:00