Rugby referees to get tough on football-like diving

Officials have been told to sin-bin players diving or feigning injury in the world cup.

rugby sin-bin
Officials would be encouraged to push teams 10m back if players persistently complained about decisions [Getty Images]

Rugby World Cup officials have been told to sin-bin players who dive or feign injury during matches in a bid to clamp down on a growing football culture in the game.

Players appealing to referees to award penalties will also be punished.

Diving is not specifically banned in rugby but referees had been ordered to treat it as “ungentlemanly conduct” and issue a straight yellow card.

“There is a culture creeping in – I call it the football culture – of simulation, people appealing to the referee, players diving,” John Jeffrey, chairman of the World Rugby match officials selection committee, told reporters.

“That is going to be sanctioned very heavily in this tournament. We are the showcase of our rugby event and it’s very important that we keep our values there and referees have been asked to sanction very heavily on that.”

Jeffrey, the former Scotland flanker, said officials would also be encouraged to push teams 10 metres back if players persistently complained about decisions.

Player can also be cited for diving even if the referee misses the offence under a new process in which warnings will be issued for yellow-card offences.

An accumulation of three yellow cards or warnings will lead to a judicial hearing and possible ban.

Source: AP