Rugby sin-bin to block 'football culture' divers

Rugby World Cup referees will send players who dive or feign injury to the sin-bin in a bid to stop a "football culture" taking over the game, a top official said Wednesday.

Citing commissioners could also issue special warnings for violence and faking injury, with a possible ban after three citations, John Jeffrey, head of the Rugby World Cup match officials committee said.

"There is a culture creeping in. I call it the football culture of simulation, people appealing to referees, players -? and it has happened a couple of times -? diving," said Jeffrey.

"That is going to be sanctioned very heavily in this tournament," the former Scottish international added.

"It is very, very important that we keep our values," Jeffrey told a press conference. "Referees have been asked to sanction very heavily on that."

The unwanted culture also includes players who try to pressure referees into decisions. Jeffrey said they should receive a straight yellow card.

Citing commissioners will watch the game from touchlines using Hawk-Eye camera technology and can give warnings for offences that referees may not see.

After three warnings from the commissioners, or three yellow cards from referees, a player will go before a disciplinary hearing that can impose a ban.

Jeffrey said players who grab opponents around the neck in the ruck will face an automatic sending off.

https://au.news.yahoo.com/thewest/a/...ulture-divers/

The Pumas are going to have to watch themselves or they won't have any players left on the field :D

It's great to see them bring this directive in.

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Originally Posted by blueandblack

three yellow cards from referees, a player will go before a disciplinary hearing that can impose a ban.

Jeffrey said players who grab opponents around the neck in the ruck will face an automatic sending off.

https://au.news.yahoo.com/thewest/a/...ulture-divers/

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I assume the three yellow cards thing is a tournament rule, since two yellow cards in a match would be a red card....AFAIK a red card is an automatic citing.

How long does a player get to rack up the three yellows? does it extend to other offenses, such as foul play, cynical penalties or simply not listening to the ref for long enough that you finally get carded for arrogance?

I think it would be a good general law change to consider, perhaps writing it into the laws whereby three yellow cards for similar offenses in, say, five matches is cause for citation and a possible ban.

It would certainly clean up certain aspects of the game a lot more effectively than the current system, whereby players push the line with the ref until they start getting penalised then pull back. If you're onto your third card, you won't be wanting to push that line too hard will you?

Around the neck in the ruck and they get sent off? Yellow or red...pity this rule wasn't enforced this year in S15

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Originally Posted by blueandblack

After three warnings from the commissioners, or three yellow cards from referees, a player will go before a disciplinary hearing that can impose a ban.

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I'm a bit dubious about this unless they are going to get rid of team warnings. As it is the guy who goes to the bin is often just the unlucky one to pay for persistent fouls by the whole team. It is not even unusual for it to happen towards the back end of a game where it's a substitute that has only been on the field a couple of minutes that gets sent. So how are they going to factor that in?

They have had the same system in Super Rugby for a while. I remember David Croft getting done for 3 yellows. This will only be for the RWC.

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Originally Posted by James

They have had the same system in Super Rugby for a while. I remember David Croft getting done for 3 yellows. This will only be for the RWC.

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Higgers was cited for 3 yellows as well