This is the controversial report in full,  from Cambridge Judge Business School:

Looking at two major rugby competitions in both rugby codes – Super 14 (Australian-New Zealand- South Africa Rugby Union competition) and Super League (British and French Rugby League competition) – Dr Lionel Page (Cambridge Judge Business School) and Dr Katie Page (Heythrop College) revealed that referees give a significant edge to teams of their own nationality in these competitions.

Specifically, referees were less likely to penalise the team of their own nationality, and more frequently penalise the team of a different nationality. For instance, in Super League, a British team received significantly fewer cards when it played against a French team than when it played against another British team. On the contrary, the French team received significantly more cards for offences which were actually classified as more benign afterwards by disciplinary committees using video evidence.

In addition, the study found that the foreign team is more likely to see its try attempt denied by the referee. The timing of decisions also played a major role. Decisions in favour of the team from the referee’s nationality were noted to take place at the most crucial moments in particular when the scoreline was close, while the foreign team received favourable decisions in situations when they were less likely to affect the final outcome of the game.

One of the most striking results of this study is that the compound effect of these decisions makes a large difference to the final outcome of the match. Looking at matches against a team from similar ability the researchers found that in the Super 14, the home team would win only in 38% of the cases when the referee is from the nationality of the opposition while it would win in 91% of the cases when the referee was from their own nationality.

In the case of the Super League, the French team won only in 38% of the cases when the referee was British while it won in 75% when the referee was Australian or French.

In addition, the researchers predicted that such a bias should be higher when the level of scrutiny of the match refereeing was lower. To test this hypothesis, they looked at matches broadcast live on TV where referees faced a close scrutiny from TV commentators using video replay and where numerous try decisions were made by a video referee. Comparing Super League matches broadcast live on British televisions and those not broadcast on live television, they indeed found that on comparable matches with an English referee, the French team won in only 30% of matches that were not shown on TV, whilst they won 59% of matches when the match was on live on British TV.

Overall the size of these effects is so large that in practise the outcome of the competition is affected. In the Super 14 the referees biases may on average tend to even out, however the final result of a close competition may well depend on a match won or lost with a referee having the nationality of one of the teams. In the specific case of the British Super League where one French team is most of the time refereed by British referees, this bias implies that over the 2006-2009 period the French could have won nearly twice as many matches with a neutral refereeing.

These results are of interest for other club competitions which present cross national matches like the Magners League which will welcome Italian teams next season and the NRL which includes a New Zealand team in a mostly Australian competition. The reality of these competitions often prevents refereeing to be neutral given the
available pool of referees. Dr Lionel Page suggests “For these cross national competitions where neutral referees are not available, one of the easiest changes to implement could be the `challenge call’ like in NFL, NBA or cricket, where a team can challenge a referee decision using video replay. It would provide a natural mechanism of checks and balances to limit potential refereeing biases.”

Beyond the specific issue of cross national matches, this study reveals how much the referee can influence the outcome of a game in rugby. According to Dr Lionel Page, “These results should prompt Rugby Federations to work further to limit the amount of referee subjective decisions in matches. Rugby is characterised by the necessity for referees to make a large number of subjective decisions in ambiguous decision. This study shows that this subjectivity may play a disproportionate role in the final match result. One of the ways forward could be to use technological innovations for some categories of decisions like offsides and forward passes.”

The policy across the whole game in England, from elite to grassroots, to protect the health and welfare of players and the image of the game, will come into effect this month and comprises an integrated programme of education, out of competition testing, assessment, treatment, rehabilitation and sanctions.

Neil James, Concateno’s Commercial Manager, commented: “The RFU has a clear and strong commitment to the introduction of an effective illicit drugs testing programme. Its recognition of an integrated approach to this alongside Premier Rugby and the Rugby Players’ Association – involving player education, deterrence and rehabilitation – will be vital in safeguarding the health and welfare of players, and in protecting the reputation of the game.”

Running alongside the RFU’s World Anti-Doping Authority Code  compliant Programme, the Illicit Drugs Policy has been based on models of existing good practice in other sports (in particular the experiences of the Australian Football League) that were reviewed and debated at the Illicit Drugs Forum held at Twickenham Stadium in July 2009.

While English rugby has operated a robust in and out of competition anti-doping testing programme for the past decade, the WADA Code does not currently prohibit or test for illicit drug use out of competition.

The focus of the new policy will be on illicit drugs, which are open to abuse in a “social” setting and already on the WADA Prohibited List for in-competition anti-doping tests and not for prescription medicines some of which also contain banned substances. Seven out of 24 positive in-competition tests conducted under the RFU’s Anti-Doping Programme between 2004 and 2009 were for illicit drug use, including two Guinness Premiership players.

There will be a “two-strike” policy with urine testing for cocaine, cannabis, amphetamines and “ecstasy” carried out by Concateno.

For a first positive test (Adverse Analytical Finding) there will be a fixed penalty fine of £5,000 for a senior professional (£1,000 for an Academy player) and the matter is kept completely confidential between the Programme Medical Director, the player, his club’s medical officer (and the England representative team doctor where applicable).

The problem is dealt with as a confidential health-related issue with the focus firmly on how to help the player deal with and be treated for his illicit drug use. This also applies to a first admission of use, which does not count as a violation and for which there is no fixed penalty.

Only if the player fails to comply with the treatment process, or commits a second violation, is the player liable to a 12 month suspension, a further fine and public disclosure of the reasons for his suspension. A third violation would result in a further longer suspension.

At every stage of the process there will be mandatory specialist assessment and treatment by a consultant-led illicit drug treatment team from Capio Nightingale Hospital, one of the UK’s leading mental health and addiction treatment providers.

PRL Rugby Director Phil Winstanley said: “Our clubs and their players have invested in a world class programme to address the societal issue of illicit drugs. The education, testing and rehabilitation elements will run alongside the comprehensive testing programme operating at Guinness Premiership level and will help us protect both the welfare of our players and the image of the game.”

RPA Chairman David Barnes said: “The Illicit Drugs Policy has been developed with the health and welfare of the players primarily in mind. The RPA recognises the damage that illicit drug use can do, and our members fully support the policy and its aims to educate and protect players from the potential damage of illicit drug use.

“RPA members recognise they are role models for the game and need to set an example. However, the profile of the RPA membership closely matches that of the social group most at risk of exposure to illicit drugs. An effective policy will reduce the risk to players and the sport, and provide a structured support programme for players who do become involved in illicit drugs, helping them to deal with their problems and recover.”

Fiona Begley, Concateno Chief Executive, addred: “Illegal drug use can create tough challenges. Every day our customers have to make tough decisions on drug and alcohol misuse that can profoundly affect people’s lives. Concateno provides an unparalleled breadth of advisory services and testing capabilities with an emphasis on quality and best practice so that our customers can rely on our tests when it matters most.”

Marc Lièvremont, the new coach of France is looking to lead his team to their first hat-trick with three back-to-back victories and along with England they have made a prefect start.

France and England top the table with four points.  Ireland and Wales may feel they are still in the chase with two points. While Scotland and Italy already look like they are going to be fighting over the wooden spoon.

There are no games this weekend.  The next round of matches will be played on 26^th and 27^th of February.

Friday 26^th March
Wales v France

Saturday 27^th March
Italy v Scotland
England v Ireland

The big showdown may well be the final game of this year’s RBS Six Nations tournament when France play hosts to England at the Stade De France on 20^th March 2010.

Viagogo is offering rugby fans an opportunity to watch their team at the six nations for free. Customers who purchase tickets to see England v Ireland at Twickenham will receive a full refund in the event that the number 10 scores a full house (try, conversion, penalty, drop goal)

Fans who purchase tickets for Wales v France at the Millennium stadium will receive a full refund if three different Jones’ score a try!

Rugby fans who purchase tickets for France v Ireland at the Stade de France will get a full refund if Ireland’s captain Brian O’Driscoll repeats his 2000 triumph and scores a hat-trick of tries in Paris.

Viagogo is the trusted online ticket exchange for a wide range of sports tickets.

Golf

A simple majority vote will be enough for either or both of the sports to be added to the 2016 calendar. Both Rugby and Golf were approved for voting back in August when five other disciplines were rejected, Squash, Softball, Baseball, Roller Sports and Karate were all rejected at the first meeting.

Rugby if accepted, will feature seven-a-side games lasting just 15 minutes and has so far been well received by the Olympic Committee. Rugby last featured in the Olympic games in 1924.

It was back in 1904 that Golf was last seen as an Olympic event and has been seen as a little too elitist for the games with limited appeal to the younger audience, but IOC president Jaques Rogge has endorsed the sport saying that several younger players were coming up the ranks, increasing its appeal among younger people.

Both sports are guaranteed expansion with funding from the IOC, increased broadcast rights deals and in some countries, automatic national funding as an Olympic sport if they are voted in.

Henry has been in charge of the All Blacks since 2004, guiding the team to 57 wins in 66 games, but defeat in the 2007 World Cup quarter finals to France prompted calls for his resignation.

The New Zealand board stood by Henry in 2007 and despite some unimpressive recent performances have decided to stick with the coaching team for the next two years.

The All Blacks have won the Bledisloe Cup five times and the tri-nations four times under the current coaching team as well as a 3-0 whitewash over the British and Irish Lions in 2005.