Sports Calendar

European Rugby Cup Ltd (ERC) is cleaning up its act on a practice that has blighted the tournament for years — tit-for-tat citings.

Citing commissioners will be on duty 26 of the first 36 games of the Heineken Cup, employing a system used in the Six Nations. Whereas in the past, a citing officer was compelled to organise a hearing once a club made a complaint of foul play, now the commissioner will decide if there is an incident that requires referral.

This should cut out the bogus cases that wasted enormous time and stirred up hatred, and highlight those cases — such as the infamous David Bory-Gordon D’Arcy incident three seasons ago — where clubs opted not to cite for fear of a revenge complaint from the opposition. It’s possible that last year’s case involving Munster’s Marcus Horan and Ospreys’ Richard Mustoe and Elvis Sevelai’i forced the issue. ERC found that the Ospreys had no business citing Horan for alleged racism yet couldn’t find any way to undo the harm done to his reputation. ‘I think it’s a great move,’ says Munster manager Jerry Holland.

‘Hopefully it will eliminate those tit-for-tat cases, which often happened in the week of back-to-back games between clubs. The time scale was very tight and could completely mess up a team’s preparation and focus. It was very difficult to go through that process unscathed.’

Contrite official sees red

Revealed: Scottish referees are standing up for themselves. The charge is led by Malcolm Changleng (yes, the bloke indistinguishable in looks and ability from his brother and fellow ref, David).

Changleng got dog’s abuse from Ulster fans after last weekend’s howler in Newport, where a clearly embarrassed Ian Gough was awarded a try despite having had the ball knocked from his grasp on the try-line by Tommy Bowe. Having seen the replay afterwards, Changleng offered his ‘profuse’ apologies on the Ulster website, pointing out that he would ‘unquestionably’ have used a television match official, had one been available (the Celtic League hasn’t got there yet). Fine and dandy — and worthwhile.

But the boul’ Malcolm is only warming up. He then proceeds to blow his own trumpet, pointing out how low his penalty count has been in his other Ulster games, and how Ulster players have complimented his refereeing style. Then he loses it altogether.

‘Last season I was out of the country reffing on 30 weekends out of 52, in 12 different countries: Hong Kong, South Africa, Argentina, Australia, etc. It is not easy constantly being away from my family. Referees do it because we love the game. I love to see banter on the rugby forums, but always dismay when I see inane abuse. Do I like seeing myself called “a Shangalang sister” or “a ##@~## Scottish referee”? Of course not.’

Hong Kong? Argentina? The poor thing. Maybe the International Rugby Board will show pity and keep him at home next summer. And surely the Scottish Rugby Union gave him a serious telling-off for going public in the first place.