A Sports Law Rugby Blog
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…
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…
Scott Barrett’s red card in the first Bledisloe Cup test of 2019 has provoked outrage and controversy across the rugby world. The decision by referee Jerome Garces to send off the All Blacks’ second row for a shoulder charge on…
The 2018 Autumn Internationals have come and gone without a single red card or suspension – in the men’s game, at least. Surely, this is something we should be celebrating? A cleaner and safer game is in the interests of…
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…
This summer, rugby has hit the headlines for many reasons – not all of them good. There have been a trio of incidents which have seen players charged with criminal offences, leaving something of a shadow hanging over the sport…
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…
The Pacific Island player drain Ben Cisneros looks at why, for all their players in Europe's top leagues, the Pacific Islands struggle at international level.
A shift in wealth: The rise of the Aviva Premiership As English players get a pay cap increase, columnist Ben Cisneros looks at what this means for the sport.
