IRB urged to review disciplinary process

THE organisation representing Ireland’s professional players is seeking an urgent International Rugby Board review of the sport’s disciplinary process.

IRUPA (Irish Rugby Union Players Association) boss Niall Woods yesterday voiced concern at the levels of inconsistencies.

“Players have grown exceedingly frustrated and disappointed with the continued inconsistencies in the application of disciplinary sanctions,” Woods claimed. “That concern is not just in Ireland; it is worldwide.”

He also questioned “whether disciplinary personnel have the required rugby experience in order for them to fully appreciate the playing situations that professional players find themselves in”.

He continued: “Whilst IRUPA does not condone foul play whatsoever and believes that those players that do commit foul pay should be disciplined, players must see some uniformity in the manner in which the administrators hand out sanctions in order for them to regain any form of trust in the system.”

He highlighted two of the most recent high profile incidents involving Irish players, Alan Quinlan and Shane Jennings, each of whom were banned for 12 weeks for making contact with the eye area of opponents. Woods said that both were exonerated of carrying out the offences deliberately yet a similar incident involving South African flanker Schlak Burger on Irish and Lions winger Luke Fitzgerald carried a ban of just eight weeks.

“There are inconsistencies everywhere and we’re not happy with the fact that, in European Cup Rugby, for instance, citings are referred to one single person for judgement.

“We don’t agree with that and our view is that urgent consideration must be given to the whole process, including whether disciplinary personnel have the required rugby experience in order for them to fully appreciate the playing situations that professional players find themselves in. There is too much unpredictability in the level of sanctions handed out and this is why there is a complete lack of trust in the system amongst players,” he said.

Woods stressed that he had no time for any type of deliberate foul play, but also pointed out that all players had a responsibility to the game and there should be no room for cheating or over-reaction in order to get an opponent punished.