2.1 Compliance

2.1.1           A Union or Association is deemed to have full knowledge of the content of these Regulations.

A Union or Association must ensure that it complies with these Regulations and must further ensure that it takes appropriate action to inform each and every one of its members of the terms of the Regulations and the obligation to comply with the same. Associations shall ensure that the Regulations are enforceable against their full, associate and recognised regional development members and that their full, associate and recognised regional development members recognise the jurisdiction of World Rugby to rule on any matters of eligibility. World Rugby may from time to time issue guidelines in relation to the implementation of these Regulations. Any breach(es) of such guidelines may render a Union, Association, Rugby Body, Club or Person responsible for such breach(es) liable to sanctions..

A Person must ensure that he complies with the World Rugby Code of Conduct and Players must ensure that they comply with Regulation 8. Breaches of these provisions will be dealt with in accordance with Regulation 19.

2.1.2          A Club or Rugby Body may only be affiliated to one Union and shall be subject to the jurisdiction of the bye-laws, rules and regulations of that Union. A Club or Rugby Body may only be affiliated to the Union within whose geographical boundaries its Home Ground is situated and shall only be entitled to play in Matches organised, recognised or sanctioned by that Union, unless specific approval has been given by both Unions. No Club or Rugby Body shall be entitled to change the location of its Home Ground or the name by which its senior teams are known, without the prior written consent of the Union to which it is affiliated.

2.1.3          A Club or Rugby Body that wishes to change its Home Ground to a location outside of the geographical boundaries of the Union to which it is affiliated must, before taking any steps to effect such a change, obtain written permission from the secretary of the Union to which it is affiliated, who in turn, subject to permission being granted by his Union, will seek the agreement of the secretary of the other Union.

2.1.4          For the purposes of Regulations 2.1.4 and 2.1.5, Home Ground shall mean the ground within the geographical boundaries of the Union to which the Club or Rugby Body is affiliated, at which the Club or Rugby Body’s senior team plays its home fixtures and which is approved by the Union to which the Club or Rugby Body is affiliated.

2.1.5          A Union may consent or direct that a Club plays a home fixture at a ground other than its Home Ground, provided such ground is within the geographical boundaries of the Union.

2.1.6         These Bye-Laws and any Regulations Relating to the Game, General Regulations or Laws of the Game made pursuant thereto shall in all respects be governed by and construed in accordance with English Law, and save as otherwise provided herein, any dispute arising thereunder shall be subject to the exclusive jurisdiction of the English Courts.

2.2 Regulations Committee

2.2.1          The Council shall appoint on an annual basis a committee of representatives (“the Regulations Committee”) from Unions and/or Associations represented on the Council. The Regulations Committee shall rule on matters of interpretation and/or implementation of these Regulations referred to it by the CEO. The quorum of the Committee shall be three. Upon referral of a matter to it the Committee shall be entitled to regulate its own procedures save that the rulings of the Committee shall be made by majority.

2.2.2          In the event of any dispute or uncertainty in respect of the interpretation or implementation of these Regulations, a Union or Association may make a written request for clarification to the CEO. On receipt of such a request, the CEO must (1), whether personally or through a designee attempt to resolve the dispute or uncertainty by a ruling to the satisfaction of the parties concerned; or (2) refer the matter to the Regulations Committee for a ruling; or (3) refer the matter to a Judicial Officer or Judicial Committee for adjudication under Regulation 20.3.1(d). If the CEO or his designee fails to resolve the dispute or uncertainty to the satisfaction of the parties within 28 days of receipt of the request, the CEO shall refer the matter to the Regulations Committee in accordance with (2) above or to a Judicial Officer or Judicial Committee in accordance with (3) above.

2.2.3          Any ruling made by the Regulations Committee, the CEO or his designee shall, be intimated in writing to the Union or Association concerned giving full reasons for the Committee or CEO or designee’s decision or ruling as soon as it is made, subject to any appeal under 2.2.4 below bind all Unions and Associations unless and until otherwise determined at a meeting of the Council.

2.2.4           Appeals

A Union/Association which has been the subject of a decision or ruling by the Regulations Committee or by the CEO shall have the right of appeal against such a decision to the Council of World Rugby (which body for this appeal hearing may not include any member of the Regulations Committee which heard the original matter), but only if a Notice of Appeal is lodged with the CEO within 14 days of receipt of notification by the Union or Association of the decision of the Regulations Committee.

2.2.5           Appeals arising from Regulation 8.7

A Union and/or Player who has been the subject of a decision by the Regulations Committee in respect of Olympic eligibility shall have the right of appeal against such decision to the Eligibility Appeals Committee, if a Notice of Appeal is lodged with the CEO within 14 days of receipt of notification by the Union and/or Player of the decision of the Regulations Committee.

The Olympic Eligibility Appeals Committee shall comprise of three persons selected by the Judicial Panel Chairman in consultation with the World Rugby Chairman. The Chairman of the Eligibility Appeals Committee shall be a lawyer of at least 10 years standing or a serving or retired judge with previous experience in sports eligibility proceedings and/or sports arbitration and two other members drawn from the World Rugby Judicial Panel and/or World Rugby Standing Committees and/or other legally qualified persons with previous experience in sports arbitration proceedings, provided such persons are neutral of the Union(s), Player(s) or parties concerned.