Rugby World Cup 2015: Wallabies approve heavier punishment for divers

The Wallabies have backed the World Rugby’s move to implement tougher penalties for “divers” in an attempt to get rid of the World Cup football-style behaviour. Wallabies assistant coach Nathan Grey and star forward Michael Hooper have agreed to the tournament organisers’ directive, believing it could provide a free-flowing rugby, instead of strategic plotting.

World Rugby committee chairman John Jeffrey have warned rugby players that they will face tougher sanctions for diving, and stricter enforcement of anti-dissent law to clamp down “football culture,” which infiltrates the sport, with players simulating injuries to gain penalties. Jeffrey said “divers” will face a very heavy consequence in the upcoming tournament.

Grey agreed with the tournament’s motive to promote a justly rugby game, saying that such tactical plots is not in each team’s rugby culture, but admitted that such actions cannot be controlled. "It's not in our culture at all, let's just get on with the game. There's so many things going on that you need to be more focused on than that," Grey said, the Sydney Morning Herald reported.

Wallabies vice-captain Hooper, who was dragged through SANZAR judiciary earlier this year for striking Argentina’s Nicolas Sanchez during a Rugby Championship match, said that it would be a good thing to prevent divers, turning rugby into a genuine game where the best team wins. "We're looking to have 15 guys on their feet for the whole game,” Hooper said, reports ABC. "I guess [the crackdown] is a good thing if that's going to be the competition - a real, genuine game where the best team wins and you can try and keep the ref out of it as much as possible."

The Rugby World organisers have informed the players about the interpretations of the laws of the game before the tournament kicks off. Jeffrey explained that divers would be “ungentlemanly” conduct, and those who are involved will receive a straight yellow card.

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