Discipline

Francis pointed out this posting to me.

There might have been a time when we'd have had a good old laugh at this poor bastard's expense, and congratulated ourselves on another lucky escape. I don't know about you, but instead of feeling smug, I find that there's something incredibly sobering about the words, "1st offence - life suspension".

Make no mistake about it, the times, they are a-changing. From the very top of the game to the very bottom the authorities are taking a tougher line on violence. Witness Lewis Moody's six week suspension for striking an opponent in a Guiness Premiership match. The good news is that rugby is more than ever about the scoring points, getting results and the athletic abilties of its players. The bad news is that old habits die hard, and the authorities won't give you time to catch up.

A life suspension. Think about it. That doesn't just mean not playing any more - you aren't even allowed to watch another game. I can't imagine how bad that feels.