Rugby Football Union Sends England Players Social Media Guidelines Ahead Of Rugby WC

England's rugby players "have been warned" not to use Twitter "after a tough defeat" as part of social media guidelines issued by the Rugby Football Union for this year's World Cup, according to Gavin Mairs of the London TELEGRAPH. The 24-point guide also warns the squad "not to react to potentially provocative messages sent by rival players or fans from other teams," insisting that engaging in a public Twitter argument "is a battle you won't win." The RFU has "already taken the unprecedented move of preventing their players writing newspaper columns or making video diaries during the tournament," which is being hosted in England in September and October. While players are not restricted from using social media under World Rugby's tournament rules, the RFU appears "determined to ensure that it does attract any negative publicity or loss of focus for its players" by even offering advice on "how to react in the event of a defeat" (TELEGRAPH, 7/28).