7 Oct 2011

IRB defends disciplinary moves

3:01 pm on 7 October 2011

The International Rugby Board has rejected criticism that it has been too heavy handed in its disciplinary approach.

Two players have been fined $10,000 for wearing an unauthorised brand of mouthguard.

Samoan player Eliota Fuimaono-Sapolu has been banned temporarily from rugby for calling a referee racist.

The tournament director for the IRB, Kit McConnell, says the rules have not changed from previous tournaments.

He says more than 600 rugby players are in the tournament and the number of times the IRB has had to take action has been small.