The International Board yesterday bowed to pressure from the southern hemisphere by sanctioning the use of video referees. Another change is that a timekeeper will take charge of the watch.

The third official will be employed in international matches and leading club games to help a referee decide whether a score, be it a try or a kick, should be awarded. His terms of reference will relate only to the in-goal area: a referee will not be allowed to call on the video referee to rule whether there has been an infringement in the build-up to a score.

Eligibility was at the top of the agenda at the IB's general council meeting in Dublin, following recent accusations that Wales and Scotland have been fielding ineligible players.

A disciplinary panel, comprising the South African barrister Jannie Lubbe, the former England centre John Spencer and the former Ireland and Lions' captain Ronnie Dawson, will decide whether the two countries have infringed the rules and, if so, what punishment should be meted out.

The panel has to report back by the end of the month. By then, the leading 12 countries in the world will have to prove that every player they have chosen in their top two national sides since January 1st was properly qualified.