Sam Cane was the New Zealand captain who received a red card in the 2023 Rugby World Cup final against South Africa. The dismissal came after a high shoulder tackle on South Africa’s Jesse Kriel.
Cane was initially shown a yellow card in the 28th minute at the Stade de France. A bunker review upgraded it to a red card, making him the first player to be sent off in a men’s Rugby World Cup final. New Zealand therefore played most of the match with 14 men.
Despite being reduced in numbers, New Zealand stayed within one score throughout the contest. South Africa led 12–6 at half-time and eventually won 12–11, with Handré Pollard kicking four penalties. Cane’s red card became one of the defining moments of the match.
The incident is sometimes mixed up with the yellow cards shown to South Africa’s Siya Kolisi and Cheslin Kolbe, or to New Zealand’s Shannon Frizell. None of those players was sent off; Cane was the only player to receive a red card.