The venal face stint in sin bin

The sin bin will be used for the first time in English rugby in this weekend's programme of Premiership matches. The sanction, which was due to start last August, will be introduced on an experimental basis and subject to review by the Rugby Football Union (RFU) at the end of the season.

Referees will be able to send players to the sin bin for 10 minutes for so-called professional fouls, such as deliberate off-side. Offences in the tackle - for instance, wilfully preventing release or slowing down opposition ball - will also be targeted by match officials, who will carry a white, triangle card for the purpose.

The sin bin had been recommended by England's top 24 clubs in Premiership divisions one and two and approved by the RFU and the international board. The experiment has been approved for Premiership fixtures only.

"If you look at the areas of play where it will operate I am sure it will have the desired effect of helping to open up play across the field," said Nick Bunting, the RFU national referees development officer.

Initially the sin bin will be used at five fixtures: Bath v Richmond, London Irish v Newcastle, Wasps v Sale, Gloucester v Harlequins and Saracens v Bristol.

Sin Bins were first used in Britain five years ago by the Welsh rugby union in an attempt to reduce foul play, but they were swiftly abandoned following criticism that they gave referees a soft alternative to sending players off.

Referees in Premiership games will still be able to use yellow and red cards for those offences which merit a stiffer punishment than the sin bin. The sin bin will be near the replacement's bench, and the period of punishment will be timed by a fourth official.

Players will be allowed to return to the pitch only when the ball has gone dead. Front row offenders can be temporarily substituted for scrums and, when no front row replacement is available, non-contested scrummages must take place.

Meanwhile, the RFU yesterday refuted claims by John Hart, the New Zealand coach, that they had acted contrary to the spirit of the All Blacks tour, which begins next week. Hart complained that a decision by the England coach, Clive Woodward, to use backup England internationals in three mid-week matches will stack the odds unfairly against New Zealand.

"I'm disappointed because it's not in the terms of the way the tour was developed," said Hart. "It is contrary to the spirit of the tour and it could affect the balance of what happens to future tours - they could end up being just Test programmes."

But Richard Prescott, an RFU spokesman, pointed out that New Zealand would play England A, an English Rugby Partnership XV, which included players from divisions one and two, and an Emerging England side.

"They are three completely different sides and designed to be that way so as to directly support John Hart's view of the spirit of the tour," added Prescott.

When England tour New Zealand next summer they will face demanding mid-week opposition, but Hart pointed out that they would all be different sides: the Academy XV, the New Zealand A side and the New Zealand Maoris.