France to introduce citing commissioners

As from next season, France is to introduce citing commissioners for its matches.

Till now citing has been done as a result of an action brought by a club’s president, which has led to strained relationships, as happened last season between Stade Français and Bourgoin when Stade Français cited Jean-Philippe Genevois for butting Dimitri Szarzewski with his head which led to a counter-citing by Bourgoin of Szarzewski and Arnaud Marchois of Stade Français.

In French top rugby fighting is endemic. Now France will come into line with what happens in the Heineken Cup and the European Challenge Cup where there are independent citing commissioners who are able to cite off their own bat.