IRB reveals new get-tough plans to tackle foul play

The International Rugby Board (IRB) is to introduce a new tough but more rational policy to deal with illegal and foul-play offenders.

Under a revised system, Judicial Officers and Disciplinary Committees will have greater flexibility to identify the appropriate entry point for offences.

Rugby Board chairman Syd Millar noted: “As the Game’s governing body, the IRB has responsibility to promote fair play, protect the welfare of players and match officials and encourage participation at all levels of the game on a global scale.

“These new adjusted recommended sanctions will bring further consistency to the system, while maintaining a zero tolerance policy towards illegal play, foul play and misconduct.

“The new sanctions are designed to ensure that in all cases a consistent process is applied globally in arriving at the appropriate sanction.

“In addition to implementing the new sanctions, the IRB is also taking the appropriate steps towards appointing a streamlined panel of citing commissioners that will preside over applicable IRB designated Test matches, further promoting consistency at Test level,” Millar added.

While the existing fixed entry point system proved successful in standardising the approach to sanctioning on a global basis, a need did exist to maintain a system that demonstrated appropriate flexibility, allowing the identification of suitable sanctions for offences at all levels irrespective of how small or severe the offence.

Therefore, at its April 2006 meeting the IRB Council requested a review of the recommended sanctions in Regulation 17 and proposals for fine-tuning the system.

This process had originally been kick-started by a conference on “Illegal and/or Foul Play — what is acceptable in the Modern Game?” specifically aimed at the practicality of recommended sanctions and related considerations.

Attendees at the conference included Brian Lochore, Pierre Villepreaux, Bill Beaumont, Keith Wood, Brian Moore, Jock Hobbs, David Pickering, Justin Marshall, Ian McIntosh, John Muggleton, Corris Thomas and Tim Gresson and members of the IRB’s Rugby and Medical Advisory committees.

Following the review, recommendations to adjust the sanctioning system were put forward to council which were subsequently approved at its interim meeting, held in Dublin in November.

“The adjusted sanctions will be introduced globally from January 1, allowing enough time for them to be bedded in ahead of Rugby World Cup 2007,” added Millar.