A Tri-Nations row over alleged eye-gouging escalated yesterday when Australia's coach Eddie Jones called for a new international code of behaviour, similar to that in cricket, to punish players guilty of misconduct.
Jones was angered by allegations from the New Zealand scrum-half Justin Marshall that he was deliberately gouged by the Wallaby lock Justin Harrison in last weekend's Test in Sydney. He believes Marshall should have been the one reprimanded for making unfounded claims.
"The citing commissioner looked at it and there was no case to answer, so what's the substance for one player making an allegation against another player of eye-gouging?" said Jones, who intends raising the issue with the Australian Rugby Union for possible discussion at IRB level.
"If we've got a citing commissioner in place and he decides on something and a player comes out and says the opposite surely there must be some international code of conduct? If a cricketer misbehaves before, during or after the game he sees a match commissioner. Why can't we have that in rugby?"
Marshall, who suffered a bloodshot eye and blurred vision, has been defended by his coach Graham Henry and the New Zealand Rugby Football Union. Henry effectively accused Jones of being one-eyed - "Eddie needs to have a bit of balance" - and the NZRFU's deputy chief executive Steve Tew confirmed no action would be taken against the experienced All Black scrum-half.
"Justin has made some comments about what he thinks occurred as he's entitled to do, as long as there's substance to his claims," said Tew, the same official who reported Sir Clive Woodward to the International Rugby Board for his blunt post-match remarks in New Zealand in June. Pots and kettles spring to mind but a growing number of similar cases may persuade the Dublin-based IRB that Jones has a point.
Leeds have formally unveiled the former England full-back Tim Stimpson as their ninth close-season signing. Stimpson, released by Perpignan, leads the Zurich Premiership all-time scoring list with 1,180 points.
"I have some unfinished business in the Premiership and there are things I want to prove," said Stimpson, who won four Premiership titles and two Heineken Cups at Leicester and a Premiership title with Newcastle.
Leeds's director of rugby, Phil Davies, said: "Tim is a quality addition to our squad and strengthens our options, not least in kicking, where he is among the best in the world.
"He has already had a big impact since his arrival with his approach to the game and I'm sure that will only improve over the course of the season."
Newcastle have agreed to release their South African flanker Warren Britz from his contract. The 30-year-old Britz has rejoined the Natal Sharks.
Rob Andrew, the Falcons' director of rugby, still believes Newcastle will start the season with their strongest squad of rugby union's professional era. Newcastle have made three high-profile new signings in Colin Charvis, Matt Burke and Semo Sititi.
