A Sports Law Rugby Blog
1. Introduction Since 2012, the Rugby Football Union (“RFU”) has operated a policy under which players playing for clubs outside of England cannot be selected to play for the England national team, save in exceptional circumstances (the “Policy”). It is…
A Spanish version of this article has been published on the website, 'A Palos'. Una versión española de este artículo se ha publicado en el sitio web, 'A Palos'. 1. Introduction Despite the hopes of Spanish players and fans, an independent World…
1. Introduction Spain have been disqualified from the Rugby World Cup for the second time consecutively after a World Rugby Judicial Committee (the “Panel”) found that they had fielded an ineligible player during qualifying…again. The country’s hopes for France 2023…
The COVID-19 pandemic has created a plethora of legal and administrative hurdles for sport worldwide, and rugby union is no exception. Existing fault-lines have come sharply into focus, as tensions have been exacerbated between the game’s stakeholders and discontent has…
It is election time for World Rugby. The elections for both the Chairman/Vice-Chairman and Executive Committee of rugby’s international governing body are underway, with the result to be formally announced on 12 May 2020, and there has already been plenty…
With the Rugby Championship underway in the Southern Hemisphere, and the English Premiership now restarted in the north, the club vs. country battle is fiercer than ever. Leicester’s Matt Toomua and Tatafu Polota-Nau, Saracens’ Juan Figallo, and Bath’s Francois Louw…
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…
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…
Spanish Rugby in the Dock Part III: The End of the Line? | Keep Calm Talk Law An appeal committee upheld a first-instance decision that blocks the Spanish rugby team from qualifying for the Rugby World Cup 2019. Both decisions…
Spanish Rugby in the Dock Pt II: Mitigating Ineligibility | Keep Calm Talk Law The Spanish rugby team will miss out on qualifying for the Rugby World Cup 2019 after fielding ineligible players. An independent committee confirmed they had breached…
