Rugby World Cup: Divers ‘to be sin-binned’

RUGBY World Cup officials are taking a stand against players who dive or feign injury to the sin bin in a bid to stop “football culture” infiltrating the game.

AUCKLAND, NEW ZEALAND - AUGUST 15: Referee Nigel Owens shows Quade Cooper of the Wallabies a yellow card as Stephen Moore looks on during The Rugby Championship, Bledisloe Cup match between the New Zealand All Blacks and the Australian Wallabies at Eden Park on August 15, 2015 in Auckland, New Zealand. (Photo by Phil Walter/Getty Images)

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.

Originally published as Rugby World Cup: Divers ‘to be sin-binned’