So ahead of the 6N kicking off on Saturday (thank god!), a wee reminder about the disciplinary process ...
1. Citing officials are in place at all matches. They can cite any incident on the field, even if the referee has taken action, except for a red card. This is because ...

2. a red card is an automatic disciplinary hearing, so does not require a citing.
3. The only requirement for a citing is if the official believes that the incident MAY reach the threshold of a red card.
4. A citing automatically leads to a disciplinary hearing.

5. The disciplinary hearing can overturn a red card and a citing; the panel can also change the law under which a citing has been made.
6. Offences are categorised by the panel as low, medium, top tier. This determines sanctions, as laid out in a table by World Rugby.

7. Mitigation can be up to 50% of the penalty - so can halve it. BUT time can be added at the discretion of the panel, for example, if a player has a particularly poor disciplinary record, or if they wish it to act as a deterrent.

8. The panel is always chaired by a lawyer, often by a QC. There are two other people who sit on each the panel. All have received training, many are ex players, coaches, officials, and all are neutral.

9. The disciplinary process is delegated by World Rugby to the Six Nations. Aside from keeping an eye on it, World Rugby has absolutely nothing to do with how this is all managed.

I’m sure that I will be tweeting about this a lot between now and March 20; interfering in conversations and generally being a pain. But, if someone is going to criticise the process, imho it’s important that they understand what they are criticising.

And if anyone does have any questions on the process, how it functions etc, please just ask!