MAKE IT CLEAR ON HIGH HITS

ENGLISH rugby chiefs want World Rugby to provide more consistency on what constitutes an illegal high tackle – 15 months after the governing body adopted a zero-tolerance approach.

Their move comes in the wake of Bundee Aki escaping any sanction for his high ‘hit’ on Elliot Daly in last week’s Ireland-England game.

Simon Kemp, RFU medical services director, said: “The sanction needs to be consistently applied by referees and particularly yellow and red cards relative to penalties as a proportion need to go up.

“The consequence of that referee application is you then see a change in player and coach behaviour with a reduction in concussion risk.”

The RFU are also investigating an allegation of homophobic abuse reported by Worcester’s Jamie Shillcock (right) in Sunday’s game against Sale.