World Rugby is a Disgrace as an Organisation

World Rugby on Thursday concluded its investigation into an alleged breach of Law 3 by the All Blacks Sevens team.

Law 3.2 provides for the sanction of a penalty kick where a team fields more than the maximum number of players. The referee, Craig Joubert, was not aware of the additional New Zealand player on the pitch prior to the conclusion of the match.

“The investigation, undertaken by the designated disciplinary official, has determined that, while New Zealand did field eight players, it was an inadvertent breach as a consequence of a number of factors relating to the management of replacements involving a number of parties,” World Rugby said via a press statement.

“World Rugby’s misconduct process caters for unsporting actions, cheating and ill-discipline (amongst other behaviours) which are at a level that bring or have the potential to bring the game into disrepute. Having fully investigated the incident, the designated disciplinary officer has concluded that the laying of a misconduct charge is not appropriate or warranted given the circumstances as the threshold had not, in his determination, been met.

“While such incidents are rare, World Rugby is committed to ensuring that there is no such repetition on the series and will ensure that all teams and officials pay particular attention to the process of replacement management.”

While they had eight players on the field, the Kiwis scored a late try to sneak a 17-all draw.

New Zealand went on to win the Sydney Sevens after scoring another stoppage-time try in the final against Australia. "

This is an absolute disgrace.   It gives the NZ team the right to go on cheating and then plead "inadvertant breach" - which incidentally applies to NZ only  - since it happened before and no action was in fact taken.   It allows the freedom to NZ to keep on fielding 8 players and when caught out - plead it was a mistake made, but not intended.  

I think what was done in this case was a sad day for international rugby management - which the organisation will regret in years to come.  

 ...not so clever mike what we should be more concerned about is poor Craig Joubert ...how many times has he been headlining the news lately for all the wrong reasons ???...not a good look mate..

...people are starting to talk about how South African referees are starting to look like incompetent fools on the world stage -although you and I have known for some time this is in actual fact the case....perhaps some electric shock therapy for the dopey South African refs might help... 

Well the NZ management team on the sideline would have been aware that there were eight players on the field . Surely ?