Task force urges new rules on blood changeovers

Rugby's world governing body has been urged to set up stricter rules on blood substitutions to avoid a repeat of the Harlequins injury scam.

Harlequins officials and a player faked a blood injury to get a kicker back onto the field in a European Cup game in a scandal that led to long suspensions and tarnished the image of the sport.

An English Rugby Football Union task group on Wednesday announced 16 recommendations to avoid issues such as cheating at blood substitutions. One of them suggested that the fourth match official should rule whether they are genuine and the IRB should draw up guidelines to determine the amount of blood that can lead to a replacement.