The Legal and Regulatory Difficulties of Re-Scheduling the Season (Part II)

Part I of this article analysed the legal and regulatory difficulties of re-scheduling the English Premiership season as a result of the Coronavirus crisis. This second part will consider the challenges faced by the international season. The International Game As…

Coronavirus & Rugby: Promotion and Relegation

The Coronavirus pandemic has created an unprecedented crisis for sports administrators. My first article on the legal implications of the pandemic in rugby considered the wage cuts being imposed on players in the English Premiership and the question of whether…

Reforming the Salary Cap

Premiership Rugby has ordered an independent review of its Salary Cap Regulations (the “Regulations”). The review is being conducted by Lord Paul Myners, the former Financial Services Secretary who served under Gordon Brown’s Government. The “comprehensive review” aims to strengthen…

Welsh Rugby Union v Robert Howley: Prohibited Betting

On 11 December 2019, a Judicial Committee (the “Committee”) appointed by the Welsh Rugby Union (“WRU”) handed down its decision in the case of WRU v Robert Howley (the “Decision”). The Committee found that Howley had breached World Rugby Regulation…

Lovotti & Quaglio: World Cup Disciplinary Review

With so many disciplinary incidents taking place during this Rugby World Cup, it is hard to keep up. Rather than try to cover them all, I am trying to focus on the most significant during the tournament and will then…

Francis & Quill: World Cup Disciplinary Review

The disciplinary sanctions for foul play have been coming thick and fast at the 2019 Rugby World Cup. After Hodge, Lee-Lo and Matu’u were handed three-week bans for dangerous tackles (previously analysed here), it was hoped that players might take…

World Cup Disciplinary Review: Hodge, Lee-Lo and Matu’u

The first week of the 2019 Rugby World Cup has not been short of controversy. There’s been some brilliant rugby played, but the decisions of referees have unfortunately dominated the headlines. This article will consider the main disciplinary incidents of…

The Rob Howley Case: Explained

This article was originally published in The Rugby Magazine a new media platform bringing rugby to life; stories, history, analysis and the most comprehensive fantasy rugby game available.   With the Rugby World Cup a matter of hours away, the Rob Howley betting…

The Gabrillagues Ban: Grounds for Appeal?

On Tuesday 20 August, World Rugby announced that France second-row Paul Gabrillagues (the “Player”) had been handed a six-week suspension for foul play in the France vs Scotland match on Saturday 17 August. The player appeared before an independent World…