European rugby bosses are planning a clamp down on player discipline during this season¿s Heineken Cup.
Heineken Cup organisers claim move is not a response to 'Bloodgate'
European rugby bosses are planning a clamp down on player discipline during this season's Heineken Cup.
Derek McGrath, chief executive of European Rugby Cup Limited, said that he held talks with the International Rugby Board about the subject over the summer.
McGrath is focused on improving both on and off-field foul play in the Heineken Cup and Amlin Challenge Cup.
"Although structures are very important for ERC and the tournament, we have, during the summer period, contributed to the discussions to IRB regulation 17 which governs discipline," he said.
"We have the benefit of being able to review our structures on an annual basis and we are focused on protecting the integrity of the tournaments and, through that, ensuring consistency of standards, fairness and transparency of our approach."
McGrath insisted that the tightening of discipline is not a response to the 'Bloodgate' scandal that has hit the headlines again in recent months.
Fall-out
The incident, which occurred during a Heineken Cup quarter-final between Harlequins and Leinster, saw Tom Williams use a blood capsule to fake an injury.
In the fall-out, Quins director of rugby Dean Richards was given a three-year ban, Williams received a 12-month suspension that was reduced to four and the club were fined £258,000.
Then earlier in September, physiotherapist Steph Brennan was struck off by the Health Professions Council for the role he played in the scandal.
But McGrath said: "You can refer to specific cases but we have had a number of serious cases over the years.
"This is not a comment on a specific case but a comment that, as the game grows, what is important to us is defending the integrity of the tournaments and all that is involved in it.
"It is the spine of the product we generate. We have had high-profile examples in recent times where serious cases have been brought and serious decisions have come down.
"Other sports are encountering disciplinary issues on and off the pitch so we need to remind ourselves that we need to learn from other sports and recognise that, if you don't protect this, then your sport and your reputation will be damaged."
