A one-match ban handed out to Stephen Robb of Mariners this week is proof that Bermuda Rugby Football Union's disciplinary committee are doing their job.

So says John Williams, president of the BRFU, who yesterday defended the committee's position on dealing with disciplinary matters.

Williams was reacting to criticism by some players who claimed that the BRFU had been slow to handle disciplinary incidents, allowing those who had been sent off this season to continue playing without penalty.

Among players ejected this season have been Rod Forrest, Paul Reed, Dave Bird, Terry Maxwell and Robb.

But Williams insisted that all had been dealt with by the disciplinary committee, most receiving stiff reprimands rather than suspensions.

According to the president, the incidents were not serious enough to warrant more severe action and on all occasions the referees were in agreement with the action taken by the committee.

"As far as we are concerned the disciplinary committee is functioning well.

The offences have to be dealt with within a five day period and certainly before the next game, and this is being done,'' said Williams.

"There is always a proper hearing. The committee will read the referee's report, they give the offender a chance to answer the charges and then action is taken if indeed it is necessary.'' Some players, who asked not to be named, told The Gazette there was concern within the sport that the BRFU were failing to take action against players sent off. They claimed that no hearings had been held and those sent off had been allowed to play in the very next match.

But Williams vehemently denied this, noting that after last Sunday's incident between Robb and Maxwell, Robb was suspended for one game and Maxwell reprimanded.

"Up to and including Sunday everybody has been dealt with,'' assured Williams.

The rugby chief felt that all of the offences had been "fairly petty'' and therefore not deserving of harsher action.

He recalled the first sending off this season, that of Dave Bird of Police in the first game after just 20 seconds. Bird wasn't suspended as the committee felt that since he missed most of the match that was punishment itself.

With the game getting faster and players allowed to battle for the ball longer, Williams noted that tempers did flare, leading to clashes. But the consensus, he said, was that in most cases nothing more than a cooling-off period was required.

"There have been no complaints about the decisions,'' added Williams. "The procedure takes its course, there is no malice afterwards. It's obvious that when you have eight teams playing each other pretty consistently you are going to get niggles that wouldn't happen if we had a bigger playing community.

"If there are any really serious incidents like a player pushing a referee then I am sure there would be more severe action taken against that player.''