Plea for 2013 - Review the IRB Judiciary Process!

As the southern hemisphere teams returned home from their northern tours back at the tail end of last year, the IRB judiciary system faced increasing criticism from players and management alike. During the IRB's annual conference in Dublin in early December, the International Rugby International Players Association criticised what it described as inconsistencies in the judicial system and called for change.

Recent incidents involving New Zealand, in particular, have highlighted problems in the system. In September 2012, Springboks prop Dean Greyling received a two-week suspension after diving across a maul to deliberately smash his elbow into the face of All Blacks captain Richie McCaw. This incredibly lenient penalty sharply contrasts with other decisions, like the four week penalty given to All Black hooker Kevin Mealamu for head-butting England skipper Lewis Moody in 2010.

In October 2012, McCaw was on the receiving end again, when he was unnecessarily kneed in the head by Australian flanker Scott Higginbotham – who then proceeded to head-butt McCaw in the ensuing scrap. Higginbotham received a two-match suspension for his actions, the light punishment probably due to the lack of force used in the incident.

Rugby vs Football - Comparison by numbers

Let's keep this simple. What's better, rugby union or football?

Most rugby fans have at some point or another taken part in a lively 'rugby union vs football' debate at a local publican, especially if you live in the UK, where both sports enjoy huge popularity.

For me there is no denying the beauty that can be found in either game on a purely sporting level. Artistry and athleticism are aplenty on both fields. The main difference lies in the 'spirit in which the game is played' (and supported). I'm not breaking new ground either by saying that increased commercialism in football has had an unquestionably perverse impact on the attitude of it's main actors from grass roots upwards too.

Perhaps it's for that reason (and maybe a few others too) that the likes of Richie McCaw, Chris Robshaw and Sam Warburton seem all the more approachable than say a young buck playing in his debut season for QPR, despite their superior fame.

I personally will probably never abandon either sport, but it's always interesting to compare some key statistics and that is exactly what one Dumptackle reader did. Step forward into the limelight....Adam Dodge, who created the beautiful infographic below. I hope you find it as fascinating as I did.

Concussion: Should there be rules regarding recommendation to retire?

The IRB decided to introduce the Concussion Bin for the current 2012-13 Aviva Premiership season, which will see players temporarily removed from the field of play for cognitive testing.

This will mean that the testing that takes place following a knock to the head will be far more thorough to ensure that any suspected concussion can be identified to prevent the risk of any short-term damage but, perhaps more importantly, everlasting long-term neurophysiological and psychological concerns caused by a second impact on an already concussed brain (Second Impact Syndrome).

In 2010, we saw the much-regretted retirement of John Fogarty on the premise of medical grounds due to consecutive concussions. The repeated concussions are thought to have been the cause of symptoms that were affecting his personal life, as well as his professional career.

Whilst this is a step in the right direction to managing and minimizing the risks associated with concussions and head-related injuries, should the IRB and national governing bodies be taking a much more firm stance on this?

Firstly by implementing more frequent medical examinations to assess cognitive actions on a more regular, scheduled basis and secondly, should retirement be encouraged as a serious option if there is a noticeable difference in the cognitive and mental performance of a player?

‘One Good Thing’ - Budding rugby stars chance to train with Saracens' Internationals

Fledgling forwards and promising props are being given the chance to hit the rugby union big time in a nationwide competition by ethical brand One Water.

The sponsors of the Aviva Premiership club Saracens are giving young rugby enthusiasts the opportunity of a lifetime – the chance to win an exclusive training ground experience with the London club’s squad, which features numerous world-class players.

The winners will also receive 30 tickets to a Saracens home match at the club’s new Allianz Park stadium once complete in the New Year.

To enter, young players, coaches, teachers and proud parents are invited to upload creative team shots of their school or under-18 club team to an app on One’s Facebook page:

www.facebook.com/onedifference. Team members must hold cards emblazoned with the ethical company’s motto #DoOneGoodThing (available to download from the Facebook page).

A difficult season lies ahead for Welsh rugby

The first of the widely anticipated autumn internationals proved to be a rather underwhelming experience for those of us with a staunchly Welsh disposition.

From the kick off it was evident that Wales lacked the killer bite to pierce the Argentinean line, and as the cut and thrust of the early encounters settled and the game found some flow, it became glaringly obvious that, it was the Pumas rather than the Red Dragons, who possessed the necessary bite to win the game. Ultimately, it took just 80 minutes for the promise garnered by a stunning world cup performance and a third Grand Slam in eight years to be largely diminished.

From the evidence provided by last Saturday’s performance, it seems there are some glaring flaws in the current Welsh setup. Does the blame lie at the door of interim head coach Rob Howley? Are the team suffering from a lack of leadership given the absence of their commander-in-chief Warren Gatland? Perhaps it was a case of poor preparation or player focus? Or could it be that the much lauded Polish training camps were scheduled too closely to the first test?

How to Guarantee your RBS Six Nations 2013 Tickets

The RBS Six Nations Championship is the highlight of the rugby union calendar in the northern hemisphere. Getting tickets can sometimes be a hit or miss activity, but there are ways in which to ensure your place in the stadium.

The Six Nations is arguably the greatest annual rugby tournament on earth. This feast of rugby brings together the passionate fans of six determined nations, each willing their country on to glory. Many fans are happy to watch their team from the comfort of their own home, or going with a group of supporters at the local pub to watch on the big screen. However, there is nothing like actually being there in the stadium, feeling every ripple of excitement, hearing the roar of the crowd. Being able to buy the match shirt will ensure that you have a lasting memory to show off to your green-eyed friends at home.