RFU Draws Line Under Cheating Row

A Rugby Football Union task group set up in response to recent scandals has found no evidence of widespread cheating in the English game.

Rugby union’s image has been hit by several recent incidents, including Harlequins’ fake blood injury and drug-related issues at Bath.

Among a number of statements, the panel also found no evidence to support ‘the speculation that the England team has fabricated blood injuries’ and recommended looking at trialling rolling substitutions.

Rugby league employs a rolling substitution system, and the idea is likely to be one of the more controversial aspects of the report.

The task group, which was established at the end of August, made 16 recommendations in all. Other suggestions included agreeing a definition of cheating and creating a specific regulation to issue severe sanctions against those found guilty of it.

The report also called upon the game to develop a policy on illicit drug use, improve disciplinary processes and ensure that medical personnel working in the sport are guided first and foremost by their professional ethics rather than their tie to a club.

The RFU wants to get the co-operation of other countries and global governing body, the International Rugby Board, in order to extend its ideas worldwide.