Will Spencer’s Red Card

The rugby world (or at least the twittersphere) erupted into furore on Sunday after Will Spencer’s red card against Wasps. The Leicester lock was sent off in the in the 40th minute after the referee deemed his shoulder to have…

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…

Around the World in 7 Days: Rugby’s Hemisphere-Hopping ‘Heroes’

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…

Four-Year Doping Bans in Rugby: Davis & Ashfield Explained

On the same day last month, it was announced that two rugby players from opposite ends of the playing spectrum had received four-year doping bans. August 13 saw US Eagle Aaron Davis and Clevedon RFC’s Dean Ashfield both sanctioned by…

Rugby’s Summer of Crime

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…

France’s New Concussion Rules: a step in the wrong direction

Jared Payne, Reggie Goodes, James Broadhurst, Mouritz Botha, Nathan White, Kevin McLaughlin, Jonathan Thomas, and Alistair Hargreaves – all have retired due to concussion. Dylan Hartley, George North, Mike Brown, Francis Saili, Dane Coles, Ben Smith, and Ryan Crotty –…

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…

The Ashley Johnson Case Explained

On 23rd July 2018, the National Anti-Doping Panel (“the Panel”) handed down their decision in the case of Wasps RFC’s Ashley Johnson. After failing a drugs test earlier this year, the flanker-cum-hooker was given a six-month ban backdated to the…

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…

Spanish Rugby Federation v World Rugby (Part III)

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…