Yesterday's decision of the Court of Appeal in London may also have implications in Ireland, where referees, who are insured, could be exposed to similar cases in the event of serious injury to a player.

"We haven't yet read the details of the appeal," said former international referee and IRFU Director of Referee Development, Owen Doyle.

"But we are going to ensure that only replacement players named as front row players can play in these positions.

"In the event of a team not having any further front row players, the referee will immediately order non-contested scrums.

"In matches where there are no designated front row replacements, the referee will immediately order non-contested scrums if a front row player is sent off, injured or temporarily suspended," said Doyle.

"We've also asked the International Rugby Board for guidance and to review current laws as they are written. In a broader sense we're also looking at front row practices at the non elite levels of the game."

Current international referee Alan Lewis, who will officiate at the Toulouse versus Northampton Heineken European Cup quarter-final in France next month, believes the decision will have a knock-on affect.

"There has got to be a time for reflection when something like this happens," he said. "People can react emotively. But as it stands, it has massive implications, in the longer term, for amateur sport.

"Legally I don't know where it can go but let's face it, outside of sports like snooker or darts, most of the sports we love and enjoy, we go out in the knowledge that there are dangers. There is nothing risk free about anything we do."

When told that reports of the case stated that the referee was to blame for the injury, Lewis said, "I find it hard to accept (the referee was to blame). Does that mean that if I'm driving you home and we slide on oil and you injure your neck am I to blame for that or is the oil to blame for that? When I referee any match, the aspect of safety is always a priority in my mind."

Lord Phillips, the Master of the Rolls who delivered the ruling in the Vowles appeal, said the referee had been found liable because he had failed to implement the law designed to minimise risk when there were inexperienced front row forwards involved in scrums and that the referee should have called for non-contestable scrums, which prohibits either team from pushing.

After the original British High Court ruling, Vowles said: "It's going to improve the game, make the referees more aware they have got to look after the players. Perhaps the referees should get paid because they are looking after the players. It will make the game safer for my kids and your kids."