Peter Bills, writing in The Independent, believes that referees have a responsibility towards uniformity across different leagues.
"Whether Julian White wishes to flatten opponents with the pugilistic skills of Mike Tyson, is no real concern of yours or mine.
"The Leicester and England tight head prop has much ‘previous’ in this regard. His list of offences goes back many years, but no more than par for the course, his Leicester apologists would doubtless argue. Whether punching his fellow England prop Andrew Sheridan is likely to improve collective morale in Martin Johnson’s squad or incline the British & Irish Lions selectors to his inclusion in their June tour of South Africa, frankly seems doubtful.
"But the point at issue here concerns none of those things. What I find absolutely bewildering is that a punch thrown in one country of the rugby playing world is not the same as a punch thrown in another.
"White’s indiscretion earned him a red card at Welford Road against Sale last Saturday. Given that the last time he was up before the beak for a similar offence he copped a five-week suspension, it seems very likely that Leicester will have to pursue their hunt for honours in the Guinness Premiership and Heineken Cup without the redoubtable scrummager that White certainly is."
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