Fiji’s rugby players have been warned that discipline will be crucial in the 2003 Rugby World Cup (RWC), with organisers promising a crack down on illegal play, the Fiji Times reported on Wednesday.
Team manager Joe Browne delivered the message following a World Cup managers meeting in Sydney where it was stressed that offences during play or off-the-ball incidents would be dealt with severely by a disciplinary board.
”Discipline will be a department that our boys will have to work on and instil before the RWC starts,” Browne told the Fiji Times.
He said four officials would be in charge of each match – the match referee, two linesmen and the video referee.
”There will be strict refereeing during the competition and every small incident will be picked up by the four referees.
”Match referees as always have the final say in games but nowadays, the linesmen can also pick up fouls or offences and report to the referee.
”Video referees will also be heavily involved in the tournament and they will have absolute power to pick up fouls or offences during play or even off-the-ball incidents.
”We cannot afford to have players in the sin-bin or suspended from the tournament because that might affect our campaign plans.”
Browne said this year’s competition was shaping out to be one of the best ever organised. He said the hosts, the Australia Rugby Union, had done well so far in preparing for the tournament.
”The competition venues, accommodation, training facilities, gyms, travelling and medical facilities are of international standards,” Browne said.
”Our players should not have any problems at all when they go to Australia for the competition.”
Fiji is in Pool B and is due to play its first game on October 11 against France in Brisbane. – Sapa-AFP