Rugby Union: Luyt faces investigation: Unpopular scrum law scrapped

AN inquiry was called by the International Rugby Football Board yesterday into comments by Louis Luyt, head of South African rugby, which it said may have brought the game into disrepute.

But somewhat confusingly, the IRB executive council decided at its meeting in Vanouver to ask the South African Rugby Football Union - of which Luyt is president - to carry out the inquiry.

No explanation was given of which comments the council took exception to.

But in a recent interview published in a British rugby magazine, Luyt was fiercely critical of the organisation of the 1991 World Cup.

The IRFB announced the much criticised rule governing the awarding of a scrum after the ball becomes unplayable in a ruck would revert to the old law, under which the scrum would be awarded to the side going forward at the time of the stoppage.

Also under consideration was the appointment of a neutral representative to act as a sole adjudicator on punishments at international matches. The board will ask the Five Nations to experiment with a card system similar to that in soccer.