IRB approves revised foul play regulations

In another document emanating from the IRB

Spoiler:

, a host of players, refs, coaches, scribes, clerics and prawn sandwich vendors was assembled to pad-out the Law book with apparently no detectable changes.

Why did they not agree:
1. Bans for a fixed number of games set at the level appropriate with the incident (e.g. why if, a player commits a offence at international level should his club/side be penalised? (The exception being in for the very worst cases, a fixed term ban from all forms of rugby).

2. As the offended side rarely derives any benefit any benefit from any citing decision the player, should be banned from playing against the offended side for one match in addition to the general ban. The player's specific club ban to apply even if he subsequently transfers to another team.

The laws were already universally drawn to IRB standards - so what was the point? Local citing boards should be held to account for mis-applying them.



Overall I can see the overall benefit of drafting was to allow the assembled masses to assess the very loveliness of Maggie Alphonsi - a judgement I suggest which is best made in a strictly non-tactile manner for fear of having to write a whole new section on off-field foul play legislation...