Rugby World Cup referees will send players who dive or feign injury to the sin-bin in a bid to stop a "football culture" taking over the game, a top official says.
Citing commissioners could also issue special warnings for violence and faking injury, with a possible ban after three citations, John Jeffrey, head of the Rugby World Cup match officials committee said.
"There is a culture creeping in. I call it the football culture of simulation, people appealing to referees, players - and it has happened a couple of times - diving," said Jeffrey.
"That is going to be sanctioned very heavily in this tournament," the former Scottish international added.
"It is very, very important that we keep our values," Jeffrey told a press conference. "Referees have been asked to sanction very heavily on that."
The unwanted culture also includes players who try to pressure referees into decisions. Jeffrey said they should receive a straight yellow card.
Citing commissioners will watch the game from touchlines using Hawk-Eye camera technology and can give warnings for offences that referees may not see.
After three warnings from the commissioners, or three yellow cards from referees, a player will go before a disciplinary hearing that can impose a ban.
Jeffrey said players who grab opponents around the neck in the ruck will also face an automatic sending off.
-AFP
