LONDON, 24 January 2004 — Plans to spike the likes of England’s World Cup hero Jonny Wilkinson deciding the outcome of Test matches by drastically cutting down the number of penalties are being discussed by the International Rugby Board.
A conference of leading coaches and administrators, including England head coach Clive Woodwards, in Auckland has agreed that the penalty goal is playing too big a part in Test rugby.
Delegates have recommended that penalties should be awarded only for foul play under Law 10 and that technical offences should be penalized by a free-kick.
However, the deadline for proposing rule changes to the next IRB council meeting in Dublin in April passed last month so if an IRB member were to propose the change it would go before the November council meeting.
Wales Hero Gibbbs Retires
In Swansea, Wales, former Lions center Scott Gibbbs announced his retirement from professional rugby yesterday, bringing down the curtain on a glorious career in which he played at the highest levels in both rugby union and league. Gibbs, renowned from his powerful running, won 53 caps for Wales and scored ten tries in a decade-long international career. He took part in three British and Irish Lions tours and played rugby league for St. Helens.
