| NEW PLYMOUTH: The NZRFU have confirmed that they are investigating ways of applying the Governments recent "get tough" stand against violent offenders, to the rugby field.
The NZRFU's Sentencing and Parole Reform Bill aims to give referees greater flexibility when sentencing the worst offenders. These new measures will ensure that all convicted brawlers are likely to spend time behind posts. "Under this legislation it is inconceivable that a person who committed an offence of savagery and depravity would only get a minimum of 10 minutes sin-binning before on-field parole," NZRFU Justice Minister Jack Phillips said. Such offenders will now have to wait a minimum of 17 minutes before a parole hearing. And people who commit the worst brawls and late tackles may now spend their entire game inside. National Party spokesman Wayne Vercoe has been fast to criticise the NZRFU's initiative. "This Bill obviously doesn't go far enough. Our dressing rooms are filled with perpetrators of heinous crimes, from abuse to violent assault all tend to stem from the one outlet. Unless the NZRFU moves to give tougher sentencing to those who flagrantly ignore off-side rules then these new laws will be merely cosmetic." Proposed measures include: * Eye-gougers and those who use fists on the field of play will stay in sin-bin for fifteen rather than ten minutes. * The worst of the late tacklers will serve a minimum of 17 minutes before being eligible for parole. * Serious ruck infringers (away from the ball) may have to serve their entire sentence off the field.  |
| Tougher sentences may be imposed - NZRFU |
Sunday, 01 April 2001 13:00
