Players who persistently foul in next month’s Rugby World Cup could be ruled out of the final as a result of measures introduced by the International Rugby Board.
Next month’s tournament has adopted a soccer-style totting up process which will put players getting three yellow cards in front of a disciplinary panel with the expectation of receiving a one-match ban.
And rugby’s bad boys will be unable to hide because even if the referee or touch judges misses foul play, the culprit can expect to be spotted by citing commissioners who will be installed at the studios of the host broadcaster to view action from all cameras filming the match.
”We want to ensure that crime doesn’t pay,” said Fraser Neil, Rugby World Cup’s tournament director.
The disciplinary panel will hear all cases involving sendings-off by the following day.
Players who pick up three yellow cards will be suspended even if it means them missing the final.
Australia’s Lote Tuqiri picked up three yellow cards during this season’s Tri Nations series.
World Cup favourites England will have to ensure their players do not step out of line.
They had Neil Back and Lawrence Dallaglio sin-binned in the June Test win over New Zealand. — Sapa-AFP