A Rugby ‘World League’? Really?

This week reports have emerged that World Rugby and, in particular, Vice-President Agustín Pichot are considering scrapping summer and autumn tours in favour of a new ‘World League’. The plan has reportedly been discussed with the heads of the New…

To Arbitrate or Not to Arbitrate? What RFC Seraing v FIFA means for rugby

“The last twenty years have seen huge growth in sports arbitration. Rather than allowing disputes to be settled in ordinary domestic courts, most Sports Governing Bodies (SGBs) now provide for all disputes under their regulations to be settled exclusively by…

Pulu & Nacewa: the Invalidity of Eligibility

In what is merely the latest drama surrounding World Rugby’s eligibility rules, former Niue international sevens player, Toni Pulu, has been declared eligible for Australia. The new Brumbies signing hit the headlines this week after rumours circulated that he had…

Changing Rugby’s Eligibility Rules: a short-term fix for a long-term problem

Pacific Rugby Players Welfare (PRPW) has announced its intention to petition World Rugby for drastic changes to its international eligibility rules. The desired amendment would allow players who have already represented a ‘Tier 1’ nation, such as New Zealand, to…

Challenging the Call: Sporting Governing Bodies and Judicial Review

Challenging the Call: Sporting Governing Bodies and Judicial Review | Keep Calm Talk Law Courts have long resisted extending judicial review to sporting governing bodies, using a strained notion of contract to provide cover where necessary. However, with sport playing…

The law on dangerous tackles: time to get a grip

The law on dangerous tackles: time to get a grip Rugby columnist Ben Cisneros argues that World Rugby's new tackling directive goes too far in its attempts to protect player welfare.