A Sports Law Rugby Blog
As of 1 January 2022, important changes were made to World Rugby’s disciplinary regulations (Regulation 17), in relation to the sanctioning of acts of foul play. This article will focus on two of those changes, which are of particular significance…
On 15 March 2022, Premiership Rugby announced that it had concluded its investigation into alleged breaches of the Salary Cap Regulations (the “Regulations”) by Leicester Tigers (the “Club”) between 2016 and 2021. The investigation, first announced in December 2021, found…
On 17 November 2021, the long-awaited decision in the World Rugby misconduct case against Springbok Director of Rugby, Rassie Erasmus, and the South Africa Rugby Union (“SARU”) was published (the “Decision”). The case relates to the infamous 62-minute video (available…
Jordie Barrett’s red card in New Zealand’s final Bledisloe Cup (2021) match against Australia has been met with no shortage of controversy. In the 28th minute, Barrett’s boot struck the face of Australia’s Marika Koroibete, as the All Black attempted…
On 21 June 2021, the RFU published the decision of its independent disciplinary panel (the “Panel”) to sanction Leicester Tigers hooker, Tom Youngs, for conduct prejudicial to the interests of the game, contrary to RFU Rule 5.12. The case arose…
Zander Fagerson’s ban during the 2021 Six Nations has caused widespread controversy. Fans and commentators have been outraged by the fact he was sent off, by the length of his ban, and by the matches for which he has been…
On 11 February, Jonathan Joseph, Elliott Stooke and Gabriel Oghre were sanctioned by the RFU for breaching the UK Government’s COVID-19 regulations and rugby’s COVID-19 Minimum Operating Standards. In what is now rugby’s second COVID-19 disciplinary case (see previously the…
On 8 December 2020, an independent RFU disciplinary panel (the “Panel”) chaired by Phillip Evans QC handed down its decision (the “Decision”) in the case of the 13 Barbarians players charged with breaching COVID-19 protocols. The players’ actions had resulted…
Today is the first day of On the Ball: The Rugby Union Conference! I am very excited to be co-hosting this virtual, free event along with Steven Flynn of Kings Chambers. For full details of the event, including the schedule…
In May 2019, World Rugby published its Decision-Making Framework for High Tackles (the “Framework”). It was intended as a “systematic tool” to guide decision-making by referees, citing commissioners and disciplinary panels as to the appropriate sanction for potential acts of…
