Talking Point: Should rugby look to the NFL for post-match sanctions?
It seems as though the controversy over Owen Farrell’s last-minute tackle on Andre Esterhuizen at Twickenham is going nowhere fast.
World Rugby have taken the decision not to cite, but that hasn’t stopped the issue being talked about ad nauseam and whether or not the decision not to cite Farrell will create a precedent moving forward, in regard to the legality of similar tackles.
The clear winners out of this situation are the broadcasters, who can continue to bill England versus New Zealand, or more specifically Farrell vs Beauden Barrett, as a battle of two of the preeminent competitors in international rugby.
One question that has arisen out of the furore surrounding the tackle is that of post-match sanctions in rugby union.
No one is suggesting that World Rugby’s zero tolerance towards contact with the head on the pitch is unfit for purpose. Red cards are a necessary determent to help change the long-term tackling behaviour of players and the adoption of such a hard line is to be praised, even if it has caused short-term confusion.
That said, could rugby learn from the NFL in terms of how it deals with the subsequent punishment of these incidents?
The NFL will rarely ban players from games for on-field misdemeanours, especially when they lack any kind of malicious intent. Unnecessary roughness, hitting a defenceless receiver and other similar penalties will often be treated with an on-field sanction and then the player will receive a monetary fine in the following week.
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If there is adjudged to be intent and that the player made a conscious decision to act, rather than a reflex, then a short one or two game ban may be handed out, but generally the NFL reserves banning from play sanctions for use of performance-enhancing drugs and violations of the league’s personal conduct policy.
Would this be a preferable outcome in rugby?
Had World Rugby, or referee Angus Gardener, adjudged Farrell to have made contact with Esterhuizen above the shoulder line, and therefore picked up a red card and a multiple-week ban, there is no doubt it would have diminished the upcoming England vs New Zealand contest.
It could be argued that fans, as shareholders in the game, are the ones being punished, as much as the player and the team.
In those situations, would a significant fine – bearing in mind the matchday fee for an England player is £22k – be a better outcome for the game? That money could then be invested in grassroots rugby, be donated to a charitable organisation or, perhaps most apt, be used to fund concussion research?
The flip side of the coin is the argument that it’s the potential cost of letting your teammates down, by your exclusion from important fixtures, that is most likely to change tackling behaviour long-term, not financial losses.
Or, is rugby still at a point where financial losses can dictate behaviour? After all, the earning potential in rugby is much lower than it is in football and the NFL.
It is a debate worth having, at the least.
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Comments on RugbyPass
Why cant I watch Rugby games please?
1 Go to commentsBeautiful shot from Finau, end of story. Gutted for Shaun Stevenson though.
4 Go to commentsThe Chiefs definitely didn’t win ugly. They had the superior scrum, a dominant lineout, and their defence was excellent once the Waratahs scored their two tries (thanks to some lucky refereeing calls mind you). They put pressure on the Waratahs lineout throughout the game, and the mind boggles as to why the referee did not award a yellow card or a penalty try against the Waratahs for repeated scrum infringements on their own try line before Narawa’s first try. And the Chiefs were slick with their passing and running angles on attack. It was a dominant performance all round, even with many questionable refereeing decisions.
1 Go to commentsWasnt late. Ref 2 assistants andTMO all saw it so who are you to say it was?
4 Go to commentsAre the Brumbies playing the Blues twice in a row?
4 Go to commentsBig difference from the Saders. Forwards really muscled up and laid a solid platform. Scooter brought some steel and I liked the loosie combination. Newell has been rather disappointing this season but stepped up big time - happy also to see Franks dot down. He should do that more often! Reihana had a good game and there seems to be more flair and invention with him in the saddle. McNicoll plays well from the back and is reliable plus inventive when he joins the line. Keep it up chaps!
3 Go to comments🤦♂️🤣 who cares who’s the best . All I know is the All Blacks have the star coach but have few star players now …
30 Go to commentsJe suis sûr que Farrell est impatient de jouer avec Lopez et Machenaud et d’être entraîné par Collazo… 🤭
1 Go to commentsAn on field red (aka a full red) in SRP must surely carry a bigger suspension than a red card given by the bunker as that carries a 20 minute team punishment. Had Damon Murphy abdicated his responsibility as a ref and issued both Drua players a yellow, which would have been upgraded to a 20 minute red by the bunker, that would have killed Australia and New Zealand’s push for the 20 minute red to be trialled globally from July this year.
11 Go to commentsEver so often you all post a Danny Care story that isn’t the announcement that he has finally re-signed for one more, victory tour season at Quins and I’m just like, “well you fooled me again!” My absolute favorite player ever, we need to make his final year at the Stoop (and Twickers) official already. I know he supposedly snubbed France but I won’t feel better until he signs.
1 Go to commentslate hit what late hit it wasn’t at all late and can clearly see he was committed before the tackle
4 Go to commentsChristian Lio -Willies 2 try perfomance was a standout. As was captain Scott Barrett. Up front was where the boys won it.They are a great team and players. Fantastic Crusaders , you can keep going.
3 Go to commentsI don't know how the locals feel about that? I guess if you call yourselves the Worcester Wasps that might be appease. But really we need more teams in the Premiership in my view so they are not padding it out as they are at the moment. It might curtail so many players going abroad as well
5 Go to commentsNZ 😭😭😭is certainly rivaling England for best whingers cup!😭😭😭 !!!
30 Go to commentsYup. New Zealand won 3 out of 10 world cups played. SA 4 out of 8 attempts 30 Vs 50 per cent.🤔🤔
30 Go to commentsShould've done this years ago. Change Saturday kick off times to around 11am. Up and off and back home before 3pm, limit travel time too. Allows players to actually do something else with their Saturday that's family oriented or being rugby fans they could ‘watch’ pro rugby. Increases crowds etc. How can anyone that enjoys grassroots and pro rugby have to choose between the two on Saturdays?
9 Go to commentsI bet he inspired those supporters just as much.
1 Go to commentsBen Smith Springboks living rent free in his head 😊😂
67 Go to commentsGood to hear he would like to play the game at the highest level, I hadn’t been to sure how much of a motivator that was before now. Sadly he’s probably chosen the rugby club to go to. Try not to worry about all the input about how you should play rugby Joey and just try to emulate what you do on the league field and have fun. You’ll limit your game too much (well not really because he’s a standard athlete like SBW and he’ll still have enough) if you’re trying to make sure you can recycle the ball back etc. On the other hard, you can totally just try and recycle by looking to offload any and everywhere if you’re going to ground 😋
1 Go to commentsThis just proves that theres always a stat and a metric to use to justify your abilities and your success. Ben did it last week by creating an imaginary competition and now you did the same to counter his argument and espouse a new yardstick for success. Why not just use the current one and lets say the Boks have won 4 world cups making them the most successful world cup team. Outside of the world cup the All Blacks are the most successful team winning countless rugby championships and dominating the rankings with high win percentages. Over the last 4 years statistically the Irish are the best having the highest win rate and also having positive records against every tier 1 side. The most successful Northern team in the game has been England with a world cup title and the most six nations titles in history. The AB’s are the most dominant team in history with the highest win rate and 3 world cups. Lets not try to reinvent the wheel. Just be honest about the actual stats and what each team has been good at doing and that will be enough to define their level of success.
30 Go to comments