A further meeting between representatives of the Six Nations has been scheduled for next month as attempts to harmonise disciplinary standards between the individual unions continue.
Yesterday’s initial meeting in Dublin was called after a number of disciplinary controversies this season - not least the Martin Johnson saga - highlighted the need for greater consistency between the six unions.
In a statement released today, it was announced that the issues discussed during the meeting at Six Nations headquarters required further consideration but that the aims were clear and a "unanimity of view" had been achieved.
"The unanimous wish of the meeting was to maintain a strong and united challenge to violence and bad behaviour," said Six Nations chairman Allan Hosie. "We mean to keep our sport clean".
The most striking case for greater harmony came when England captain Martin Johnson was picked to play by Clive Woodward against Ireland regardless of having been sin-binned for punching during a club match.
Johnson was selected despite the fact that Bernard Laporte, the France coach, dropped David Auradou for the game against Wales after he was sin-binned in the Six Nations opener against Italy.
Johnson was then handed a 21-day ban for punching Russell but because the Rugby Football Union failed to organise a one-man appeal hearing before the Stade de France game, he was free to lead England a fortnight ago.
Today’s statement outlined a number of areas where the procedures need to be tightened up, including "the clarification of principles, procedures and penalties; the perceived and actual inconsistencies in structure and application of procedures; and the increasing use of professional legal representation".
The next meeting will take place on April 25th.
