Scots get tough on rugby violence

Press, 9 November 1978, Page 32

Scots get tough on rugby violence

NZPA London The Scottish Rugby Football Union has reacted i strongly to recent violence I on the’ field by handing out a total of 248 weeks in suspensions to 41 players of all grades. In a “get tough” move, the ■ i union has sent a warning let-] iter to all its affiliated clubs I threatening action against I clubs themselves if their j players continue to get sent ioft in matches. The letter gives ho details j of what this action might be but commentators speculated) that it could take the form: of fines or. possibly even the I ; suspension of a club’s fixture list for a variable period. While one junior grade! player received 30 weeks sus-1 pension for an unspecified! action the only well known! I player among the 41 is the: Scottish prop. Norman Pender, who filled the tight-head j role in Scotland’s front row during the last northern! season. A union official said Pen ! Ider had been sent off for “a J rucking offence” and his six! weeks suspension would end! ion November 25. This means he will still be available for selection to' play for Scotland against thej All Blacks at Murrayfield on I December 9. With the European season; ,istill in its ccmpartively early! [stages, a total of 57 players) • had been ordered off in the; Scottish union’s area up to; the end < " October, nearly ■ double th. iumber sent off in the same period last year.) In its letter, the union said: I “The S.R.U. committee is! seriously disturbed about this! unacceptable face of Scottish; rugby and reaffirms its determination to stamp down on) foul play and unsporting be-! haviour at every level of the! : game.” ’ I 1 If there was no improvement even more severe penalties would be imposed on players and the union would consider action against the! clubs involved. „ 1