REGULATION 16.  ORGANISATION OF INTERNATIONAL MATCHES; INTERNATIONAL TOURNAMENTS; INTERNATIONAL TOURS

16.1    (a)    All International Matches, International Tournaments, International Tours or Series of Matches involving the senior National Representative Team (at fifteen and seven-a-side) or the next senior National Representative Team of a High Performance Union(s)¹ must be regulated, co-ordinated and approved by the Council. No International Match, International Tournament, International Tour or Series of Matches involving the senior National Representative Team and/or next senior National Representative Team of a High Performance Union(s) can be confirmed before it has been approved by the Council, such consent not to be unreasonably withheld. The criteria for the approval of International Matches, International Tours, International Tournaments or Series of Matches involving the senior National Representative Team or the next senior National Representative Team of a High Performance Union(s) by the Council shall be determined by the Council from time to time.

(b)    All International Matches, International Tournaments, International Tours or Series of Matches involving the senior National Representative Team (at fifteen and seven-a-side) of Unions which are not High Performance Unions must be regulated, co-ordinated and approved by the CEO. No International Match, International Tournament, International Tour or Series of Matches involving the senior National Representative Team of Unions which are not High Performance Unions can be confirmed before it has been approved by the CEO, such consent not to be unreasonably withheld. The criteria for the approval of International Matches, International Tours, International Tournaments or Series of Matches which do not involve the senior National Representative Team of High Performance Union(s) by the CEO shall be determined by the CEO from time to time.

(c)    All International Matches, International Tournaments, International Tours and Series of Matches including age-grade and other forms of the Game save for fifteen and seven-a-side which do not fall within (a) or (b) above must be regulated, co-ordinated and approved by the Unions concerned and the Association in which the International Match, International Tournament, International Tour or Series of Matches is scheduled to be held. No such International Match, International Tournament, International Tour or Series of Matches can be confirmed before it has been approved by the Unions involved and the relevant Association, such consent not to be unreasonably withheld. The criteria for the approval of such International Matches, International Tours, International Tournaments or Series of Matches shall be determined by the relevant Unions and Associations from time to time in accordance with any directions of World Rugby.

16.1.1    The Council will establish a schedule of International Matches, an International Tournament schedule and an International Tour schedule for the High Performance Unions for an agreed period. Once International Match, International Tournament and International Tour details are confirmed by the Unions concerned and have been approved by the Council or, as applicable, the CEO or relevant Association, the arrangements cannot be changed unless agreed by the Council or, as applicable, the CEO or relevant Association.

16.1.2    International Matches, International Tournaments, International Tours or Series of Matches involving National Representative Teams may be provisionally arranged by the Unions concerned and subsequently submitted to the Council or, as applicable, the CEO or relevant Association (in accordance with Regulation 16.1(a), (b) or (c)) for approval at the discretion of the Council or, as applicable, the CEO or relevant Association. No International Match, International Tour, International Tournament or Series of Matches involving a National Representative Team(s) may be arranged by any organisation other than the Council or, as applicable, the CEO or relevant Association, and the Unions of such National Representative Teams in accordance with Regulation 16.1(a), (b) or (c).

16.2    Matches, tours and tournaments below National Representative level

16.2.1    A Rugby Body or Club shall not play a Match or Matches against any Rugby Body or Club or other team(s) that are not affiliated (temporarily or otherwise) to a Union or against teams that contain Players that are not members of a Union without the prior written consent of the CEO (subject to Regulation 16.2.5 below).

16.2.2    Without limiting Regulation 16.2.1 above, when consideration is being given to a Match, Series of Matches or tour involving teams below National Representative level (e.g. Provincial, State, County, District, Club or other Rugby Body) from more than one Union, written permission to arrange such Match(es), Series of Matches or tour(s) must first be obtained from the Secretary of the organiser’s Union, who in turn, subject to permission being granted by his Union, shall obtain the agreement of the secretary of the other Union in writing and, as applicable, of the Union(s) within whose territory the Match(es), Series of Matches or tour(s) will take place.Without limiting Regulation 16.2.1 above, when consideration is being given to a Match, Series of Matches or tour involving teams below National Representative level (e.g. Provincial, State, County, District, Club or other Rugby Body) from more than one Union, written permission to arrange such Match(es), Series of Matches or tour(s) must first be obtained from the Secretary of the organiser’s Union, who in turn, subject to permission being granted by his Union, shall obtain the agreement of the secretary of the other Union in writing and, as applicable, of the Union(s) within whose territory the Match(es), Series of Matches or tour(s) will take place.

16.2.3   When consideration is being given to any tournament involving teams below National Representative level (e.g. Provincial, State, County, District, Club or other Rugby Body), from more than one Union, written permission to arrange such tournament must first be obtained from the Secretary of each of the Unions concerned (including for the avoidance of doubt any Union within whose territory Matches forming part of the tournament will take place).

16.2.4   The visited Union shall be fully responsible for ensuring the proper administration and control of all Matches, tours, Series of Matches or tournaments within its territory.

Additional Requirements in Relation to Cross-Border Tournaments

16.2.5   In addition to the approval of the respective Unions as required pursuant to Regulation 16.2.3 above, when consideration is being given to a Cross-Border Tournament, written permission to arrange such Cross-Border Tournament must also be obtained in advance from the Council. No Cross-Border Tournament can be confirmed before it has been approved by the Council, such consent not to be unreasonably withheld. The criteria for the approval of Cross-Border Tournaments by the Council shall be determined by the Council from time to time.

“Composite” or “Scratch” Teams

 16.2.6    For the avoidance of doubt, the instigation, negotiation or arrangement of a Match, Series of Matches, tournament or tour to the country of another Union involving a “composite” or “scratch” team or any team which includes a Player who is (temporarily or otherwise) a member of a Union is prohibited unless the specific written permission has been granted by the Unions concerned, as applicable, and:

(a)    if the “composite” or “scratch” team includes a Contract Player(s) contracted to play the Game within a High Performance Union; the CEO; or

(b)     if the “composite” or “scratch” team does not include any Contract Player set out in (a) above and/or otherwise in relation to a Player who is not (temporarily or otherwise) a member of a Union, the Association in which the Match is scheduled to be held.

If both (a) and (b) above apply to a Match, Series of Matches, tournament or tour to the country of another Union, the CEO may grant permission in respect of both (a) and (b).

16.2.7    For the purposes of Regulation 16.2.6 a “composite” or “scratch” team is one which is neither:

(a)    a Club team; nor

(b)    a National Representative Team or the team of a Rugby Body.

Non-Compliance

16.2.8    Any Match, Series of Matches, tour or tournament which does not fully comply with the requirements of the Bye-Laws, Regulations and Laws of the Game shall be deemed unofficial. The Union within whose territory such an unofficial event takes place (and the visiting Union or Unions) and/or the Union or Unions of participating Provincial, County, District, Clubs or Rugby Bodies will be held responsible and will be liable to sanction in accordance with the Regulations and/or Bye-Laws.

Association Approval

16.3    Where a Match, Series of Matches, tour or tournament is approved by a Union or Association in accordance with Regulation 16, the Union or Association shall maintain a full record of such approvals which World Rugby may request from time to time.

16.4    Where a Match, Series of Matches, tour or tournament is approved in accordance with Regulation 16 to take place within the territory not of a Union but:

(a)    within the territory of a union in membership of an Association; or

(b)    within the territory of a union within the jurisdiction of but not yet in membership of an Association with the consent of that Association;

the Association shall assume the relevant role and obligations of the Union set out in Regulation 16.

[1] “High Performance Union” means any of the twenty Unions which competed in the most recent Rugby World Cup.