Premier Rugby To Review Injury Rules
Premier Rugby chief executive Mark McCafferty has revealed new injury checks are set to be brought in for the new Guinness Premiership season in response to the Harlequins ‘bloodgate’ scandal.
Under the plans, players leaving the field with blood injuries in Premiership matches would be assessed by opposition medical experts to confirm there is no attempt to cheat.
Rugby union is still reeling from the fall-out of last season’s Heineken Cup quarter-final between Harlequins and Leinster, and the damaging fake blood scandal that saw former Harlequins rugby director Dean Richards, physiotherapist Steph Brennan and player Tom Williams all banned.
McCafferty is determined to avoid any similar incidents in the Premiership.
He stated: ‘I will be talking to the clubs and the board about regulations that will allow the opposing team doctor to verify any blood injury and I cannot see anyone objecting to this.
‘Such a sanction will provide the deterrent to ensure blood capsules and fake blood injuries will never happen again.
‘We have a scheduled board meeting on September 3 and I see no reason why this new rule cannot be in place in time for Sale’s game against Leicester the following night.’
