Key legal issues to look out for at the Rugby World Cup 2023

Legal issues in the lead up to the Rugby World Cup 2023

Published Thursday, 07 September 2023.

How To Approach ‘ESG Criteria’ When Hosting Major Sports Events

Published Wednesday, 06 April 2022.

Welfare-focused rugby law trials to be implemented globally

Rugby united in its ongoing commitment to enhance welfare outcomes
Five welfare-focused trials to be adopted globally from 1 August, 2021
Truly collaborative process has involved players, coaches, competitions and medics
Players and competitions welcome trial
Outcomes will be evaluated in 2022 in inform decision on adoption into law

Key elements approved for future Rugby World Cup awarding

Key sports law cases and developments of 2019 – Africa & Middle East

Map of Africa & Middle East with title text

Published Saturday, 21 December 2019.

Best practice for sports organisations when managing betting compliance risks (the Rob Howley case)

Published Friday, 25 October 2019.

Why Japanese rugby needs to turn professional - and the legal challenges it could present

Published Tuesday, 05 March 2019.

ITV appointed UK rights holder for men's and women's Rugby World Cup events

Christopher Quinlan QC appointed World Rugby Judicial Panel Chairman

Key sponsorship trends in the use of technology and data: Part 2 – Legal considerations

How to deal with managing the departure or retention of elite sports coaches

Published Tuesday, 02 August 2016.

What are the legal obligations on sports clubs looking to dismiss an underperforming manager?

Published Thursday, 03 March 2016.

Independent disciplinary update: George Moala (Tonga)

Tonga centre George Moala’s appeal against the decision of a Judicial Committee to suspend him for five matches arising from an act of foul play contrary to Law 9.18 (lifting tackle) in Tonga’s Rugby World Cup warm-up match against Canada on 10 August, 2023, was heard remotely on 24 August, 2023.

The independent Appeal Committee was chaired by Christopher Quinlan KC (independent Judicial Panel Chairman), Brenda Heather-Latu (Samoa) and Judge Mike Mika (New Zealand).

The Appeal Committee dismissed the player’s appeal against the entry point of the offending. Having considered the evidence before it, the Appeal Committee found that the Judicial Committee which heard the case at first instance was entitled to find that the tackle warranted a mid-range entry point and accordingly upheld the decision of the Disciplinary Committee.

As Moala has been selected in the Tonga Rugby World Cup 2023 squad the suspension remains as imposed by the Judicial Committee and therefore the player will miss the following matches:

Tonga v Canada – 15 August, 2023
Clermont Auvergne v Perpignan – 26 August, 2023
Ireland v Tonga – 16 September, 2023
Scotland v Tonga – 24 September, 2023
South Africa v Tonga – 1 October, 2023

The full written decision will appear here once available.

World Rugby announces broadcast deal for Rugby World Cup 2021 and 2023

Under the deal, which is announced just ahead of two years to go to Rugby World Cup 2023, TF1 will provide free-to-air coverage of Rugby World Cup 2021 in New Zealand (8 October-12 November, 2022) and Rugby World Cup 2023 in France (8 September-28 October).

Minor law adjustments confirmed by World Rugby

World Rugby has approved minor adjustments in law relating to Law 5 (time) and Law 18 (touch) following consideration of unintended consequences of current law in specific circumstances.