In January 2016, as a check on the legal robustness of World Rugby’s approach to disciplinary matters, one of the authors of this article produced a critical evaluation of the disciplinary cases that were decided at the 2015 Rugby World Cup. This evaluation included making a number of recommendations for the 2019 tournament. It was therefore a logical step to perform the same analysis at the conclusion of Rugby World Cup 2019 (RWC 2019). This was made even more important given the introduction by World Rugby of the Decision-Making Framework for High Tackles only a few months before the start of the tournament, which was to be applied by match officials, citing commissioners, judicial officers and legal counsel alike. Given the volume and complexity of the decisions that came out of RWC 2019, the analysis has been split into two parts. Part 1  examines: Overview of the disciplinary process for RWC 2019; A substantive interpretation of the Laws and Regulations Application of the decision-making framework for high tackles; and Intention/recklessness.

Part 2, available soon, focuses on the sanctioning of proven acts of Foul Play and procedural issues, as well as the authors providing their overall conclusions.