Letters | Rugby must bring in the full might of the law

So, the Springboks do it again. I am not referring to the impressive win over Wales (in fact that was marred), but the unimpressive goings on in the deep, dark dungeons of rugby’s “hooligans”. There can be no qualms now.

No measure of “colourful language” will paint a different picture here. In fact, a player guilty of eye-gouging, or any bodily harm, should be banished by their team management and players for the customary period. (Nine weeks?) TMO panels should not even bother themselves with this kind of lawlessness.

Let the public (and integrity) be the judge. (On the face of video evidence, of course). See how that works like a charm.

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One way or another, pure unadulterated hooliganism in any sport has to be eliminated. A charge could be “assault with intent to cause grievous, bodily harm”. It would be difficult to prove eye-gouging, grabbing one’s genitals, etc., as unintentional.

If World Rugby is serious about stamping out serious injury, like it did with raking (players stomping other players with their boots), it must introduce the full might of the law on the sports fields. TMO panels, with all their powers, insights and oversights, are not effective. After all the hype surrounding the red cards, Eben Etzebeth proved just that.

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