While this last weekend has seen the most significant rugby dissension for a far few years (yes, we are talking about THAT England-Wales match,) it’s fair to say that 2021’s Six Nations tournament on the whole has been something of a shambles. And, amidst the many arising controversies, fans are left asking pressing questions about rising worries in rugby on the whole. 

Admittedly, this isn’t an altogether new issue, with convictions, point deductions, and a general downturn in tone punctuating the last few years. Now, though, with the issues of this latest Six Nations coming under significant fire, it’s no longer possible to overlook the obvious.

Namely, bad habits and negative attitudes have started to creep into a game famed for its morals and respect. This latest tournament has especially revealed pressing issues that rugby experts have been quick to pick up on. And, we’re going to look at them here. 

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Are referees really right?

Referee/player dissension is nothing new, but controversy aimed at this weekend’s referee, Paul Gauzere, have particularly opened the wound. Despite openly admitting to making two significant try mistakes in Wales’ favour, Gauzere is set to continue on the Six Nations circuit, sparking an already existing debate about the role, and ethics, of referees in general. 

Is player dissent reaching new heights?

The bad behaviour of rugby players is not a new concept. Pushes for no-fault stand-down rules have been especially rife in the NRL, but these only apply to players who commit serious crimes, leaving minor offenders largely unchecked. Now, with bad behaviour holding ever-more damning consequences, dissension in the French ranks, especially, has left many calling for harsher responses.

A recent Covid outbreak in the French team (sixteen positive tests in the last ten days) that’s led to the suspension of their latest match against Scotland has especially fanned the flames. The blow is especially damaging in light of accusations that head coach Fabien Galthie breached the team bubble while other players left the hotel to buy non-essential food items.  

All of this has left sports minister Roxana Maracineanu with little choice but to threaten their withdrawal from the tournament, but no official moves have been made thus far, leaving fans and fellow players in uproar about why discipline is so hesitant in the face of blatant disregard. 

What about ill-discipline on the pitch?

Serious questions are also being asked about ill-discipline on the pitch in light of England’s match against Wales. This is a running theme for the Red Lions, who have amassed an astounding average of 13.6 penalties per game in the Six Nations thus far, and who further disgraced themselves in this most recent appearance. 

As well as posing difficult questions to England, in particular, this reveals a worrying trend in increasingly poor match discipline across the game. This is an issue that’s only worsened by the referee setbacks already mentioned and needs addressing to ensure that, ultimately, this doesn’t put a very large spanner in a game that’s always prided itself on respect and camaraderie.