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Blue cards will be used in Australia's National Rugby Championship next season following successful trials at amateur level.

The Australian Rugby Union are taking steps to make the game even safer, with referees given the power to remove players from the field if they are showing signs of concussion.

Blue cards - which will also be introduced in next year's Women's University 7s tournament - were trialled in the Hunter, Newcastle and ACT regions last year and in the Australian Schoolboys Championships in July.

(Image: Getty Images)

Once is player is shown a card by the referee, they are immediately removed from the field and have to follow a set of guidelines before they can return.

The introduction of the system in the NRC - which is described as Australia's national professional competition and features a smattering of Super Rugby stars - is possibly a step towards the cards being introduced in the wider game.

It is being reported Down Under that officials intend to introduce blue cards to Super Rugby in 2019.

If a player is shown a blue card they must then follow a series of steps before returning to training and play:

Physical rest for 24 hours or for as long as advised by a medical practitioner

Complete the minimum stand down period under the ARU concussion guidelines (19 days for adults, 12 days for children under 18)

Undertake a Graduated Return to Play program