Rugby:Scots couldface sanctions.

● World Rugby to convene hearing in wake of typhoon

Scotland could face punishment for their “comments and behaviours” after hinting at legal action when their World Cup match against Japan was under threat of cancellation.

World Rugby has confirmed it will convene a hearing of its independent disputes committee in light of Scotland Rugby Union chief executive Mark Dodson’s comments last week.

Dodson hit out at World Rugby’s plans to cancel Scotland’s final Pool A clash with Japan on Sunday if Typhoon Hagibis had left the Yokohama Stadium unsafe for action.

World Cup organisers managed to stage the match, with Japan defeating the Scots 28-21 and reaching the quarterfinals at their foes’ expense.

But now Scotland could face sanction for their conduct in the days leading up to that clash.

“We’ve referred to the independent disputes committee the comments and behaviours of the Scottish Rugby Union,” said World Rugby CEO Alan Gilpin.

“On that basis it’s probably inappropriate to comment any further.”

Dodson refused to rule out taking legal action during an extraordinary snap press conference on Friday should the game not go ahead.

Asked if further legal action could be a possible step if the game was scrapped, Dodson said: “I think our view is that we have to reflect on that matter at that time. This is a glorious, world-class sporting occasion. We don’t want to be the people that taint that. But we also don’t want to be the collateral damage of this.”

Typhoon Hagibis forced the cancellation of England against France and New Zealand’s clash with Italy, with Canada and Namibia’s meeting in Kamaishi also falling foul of Japan’s biggest storm since 1958.

Rugby World Cup rules state that any pool-stage match deemed unplayable due to the weather cannot be staged on a different day.

Scotland felt those regulations were open to challenge due to “force majeure” measures, with Dodson repeatedly demanding a “common sense approach”.

Gilpin insisted yesterday that all appropriate tournament rules had been followed during the typhoon.

“We were very clear with everyone before the tournament about the detailed contingency plans in place but also tournament rules about how contingency plans could be implemented.

“Tournament rules for Rugby World Cup specify that for the pool phase any match not completed on the day scheduled will be not moved to a different day. This is clear in the tournament rules and not

new at Rugby World Cup 2019.

“Those contingency plans were in place, including back-up venues. But the rules do not allow for postponements to be effected in pool matches.

“What became clear was the incredible size of the typhoon, with it being 1,400km wide only three match venues were outside of the typhoon’s path.

“We were not able to implement contingency plans that would treat all matches and teams consistently and fairly. We would only vary those rules if we could treat all teams consistently and fairly. But we couldn’t.

“So that led to the

difficult decision to cancel two matches on Saturday.

“We did have contingency venue plans for the other three matches on the Sunday, but they

were always dependent on damage caused by the typhoon.

“Pleasingly of course we played those three matches as scheduled.”