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World Rugby Handbook

EXPLANATORY GUIDELINES REGULATION 8 4. What is required to be submitted to the Regulations Committee? Applications should be submitted to World Rugby accompanied by all relevant supporting documents by the Union (or in applicable cases where there is no Union, the National Olympic Committee (“NOC”)) of the country the Player wishes to represent in an Olympic Event. The application shall be pre-notified to the Player’s Union (namely the Union who’s National Representative Team the Player has previously represented. The Player’s Union may make written submissions to the World Rugby Regulations Committee or may be invited to do so. 5. Can a Player with dual nationality, or having World Rugby eligibility for one Union but the nationality of another, represent both Unions / countries in the same Olympic qualification process? No. A Player may only represent one Union / country in the Olympic Events. For example if a Player played for a Union in the Sevens World Series in the year it was designated as an Olympic Event the Player could not later in the same Sevens World Series play for another Union / country even in circumstances where he was deemed eligibly by the Regulations Committee to play for the second Union / country of which he is a national. The principle of Regulation 8.2 applies equally to Olympic Events, such that if a Player, having represented one Union / country in an Olympic Event they may not represent another Union / country thereafter. 6. Can a Player switch nationality? Nationality is a matter which is governed by nation states. If a Player does switch nationality the effect of this upon their Olympic eligibility would need to be considered taking into account Regulation 8.6 to 8.16 and the Olympic Charter Rules regarding eligibility which can be found at www.olympic.org. However, a Player who has represented one Union / country in an Olympic Event(s) and who has changed their nationality or acquired a new nationality may participate in Olympic Events to represent their new Union / country provided that at least three (3) years have passed since the Player last represented their former Union / country and the approval of the International Olympic Committee, the relevant National Olympic Committee(s) and World Rugby is obtained. 7. How will the Olympic eligibility criteria be assessed? In the early days of the Olympic participation the view has been taken by World Rugby that the Regulations Committee should assess all cases where a Player who has already been captured for a Union under the one Union only rule (Regulation 8.2) but wishes to subsequently play for another Union / country for which s/he holds nationality in an Olympic Event. 8. Is there any stand-down period? Yes. The Player will be required to observe and demonstrate a stand down period of three (3) years between the time the Player last played for Last update: 14 January, 2015 148


World Rugby Handbook
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