It’s got to be the most dye-aboloical decision the International Rugby Board have ever made. In fact, it almost reduces them to the level of the soccer fuddy-duddies who refuse to use video technology like every other major sport does.

The problem (in the eyes of the IRB) is that players in the Rugby World Cup are not allowed to have green hair - whether they are competing for Tonga or even Mars. At least, not if the dyed locks are meant as a tribute to the sponsors who made their participation in the RWC possible.

Little Tonga, the surprise packet of the tournament, play England otonight (Friday) in a winner-take-all showdown which will decide who joins Pool A winners South Africa in the quarter-finals.

'The IRB ruling has made the Tongan underdogs even more determined to make it hairy for England on the night'


And as a tribute to the Irish betting firm Paddy Power, who have helped to finance their mission to France, the islanders called hairdresser Dermot Hickie (no prizes for guessing his nationality) to their team hotel near Montpellier to apply a dash of colour to the tresses of the entire 22-man squad.

At least, that was the intention - until the bizarre arrangement reached the ears of the authorities.

The man who originally gave the idea the green light was Tongan centre Epeli Taione, whose fund-raising paid for the cost of pre-World Cup training camps in New Zealand and England.

Taione, a former Sale and Newcastle player, initially thanked the sponsor by changing his name by deed poll to Paddy Power. But the IRB - surprise, surprise - refused to alter his name in the World Cup guide. The Tallaght-based bookmakers, who had made a five-figure donation, responded by sending Hickie to the Tongan camp to play the demon barber (well, demons are green, aren’t they?)

"It's just a laugh, a luck-of-the-Irish thing," said Paddy Power representative Adam Perrin before the IRB turned spoilsports. ’’While we do understand the IRB have their rules, this is the team's way of thanking us."

But the authorities insisted Tonga’s action would be breaking the tournament rules regarding sponsorship - and ordered the players to either remove the dye or shave their hair off altogether.

Either way, it will be Rich Man v Poor Man when the £30-a-week Tongans take on the reigning world champions, whose players were reportedly on £15,000-a-man just for being at the tournament.

Indeed, some of Tonga’s squad members had to pay their own way to France because there wasn't enough money in the coffers to cover their air fares.

"I just do not get the ruling," said captain Nili Latu. ‘’We're grateful that Paddy Power helped us out along the way, and the green hair was just the boys wanting to show some respect or give something back. I guess the IRB are saying we couldn't do that.

"I'm sure some of the other guys in other teams are wearing blond hair so why can't the rule go both ways? But it came up as a problem and we changed it.

"It's not going to get in the way of our preparation. We're keen to go and a little problem like that is not going to stop us against England."

Asked about Tonga going green, England’s balding coach Brian Ashton quipped: "They can do what they want as far as I'm concerned. The only disappointment is that I was thinking of doing the same thing and they've stolen my thunder. I'd have to find some hair first..."

Certainly the IRB ruling has made the Tongan underdogs even more determined to make it hairy for England on the night.

What’s the chance of them upsetting the odds? Well, Paddy Power are offering 4/5 Samoa with a 21-point start. Plus a free bottle of hair dye, perhaps.

Were the IRB right to KO Tonga's green-hair plan? Leave your comments below.