Mathias Dantin, seriously injured following a tackle, speaks out on the 20-minute red card rule

“A reduced sanction does not make Rugby more grandiose but much more dangerous.” Mathias Dantin knows what he is talking about, having seen his life turned upside down in December 2022 during a UNSS tournament. Following a dangerous tackle, the young man became incomplete quadriplegic. Since then, Mathias has come a long way and has not forgotten rugby. But when the new twenty-minute red card rule was put on the table, Mathias’ stomach sank.

In a message posted on his Instagram account, the young man returns to this rule, which is currently still in the testing phase. In video, Mathias Dantin explains his vision of things: “Today, I feel obliged to speak out on the potential new 20-minute red card rule and on the drift observed at the start of the season on dangerous gestures, which are still too numerous, despite increasingly more refereeing. responsive to non-compliant behavior in the field. […] Professional rugby today seeks to be ever more spectacular than that of yesterday. But at what cost? […] Rather than reducing the severity of sanctions, we should strengthen education on responsible behavior in the game and develop a culture of player protection.”

“We will not be able to regain our physical state and our life after 20 minutes”

A touching sincerity which undoubtedly gives even more weight to these words. The latter also does not hesitate to illustrate his remarks with his experience as well as that of Nicolas Chauvin, who died on the ground at the age of 18, so that these demands take on meaning in the eyes of all: “The consequences of these actions can last beyond a lifetime […] I have a special thought for Nicolas Chauvin. He, like me, will not be able to regain our physical state and our life after 20 minutes.”

In his explanation, Mathias Dantin then calls for the mobilization of everyone: players, staff, clubs, referees, federations, supporters, etc. “The sanction must be commensurate with the actions to remind everyone that safety and respect are and will remain the fundamental pillars of this sport. Rugby is a combat sport which is not trivial! Every violent gesture must not be not be inevitable because their consequences are indeed a reality”, he assures in conclusion.

As a reminder, on Tuesday December 17 in Tarbes (1:30 p.m.) an important trial will be held for Mathias Dantin and his family. The author of the tackle will be judged for “violence resulting in permanent disability”.