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World Rugby Handbook

REGULATION 20 20.5 Unions are responsible and accountable for the conduct of their Players and all Persons within their jurisdiction. Unions, Players and Persons must conduct themselves in a disciplined and sporting manner and ensure that they do not commit any act(s) of Misconduct. 20.6 The Role of the Host Union, Association or duly recognised Tournament Organiser in Misconduct Matters 20.6.1 The Host Union shall nominate a designated disciplinary officer who shall administer this Regulation and shall be entitled to undertake such investigations (personally or through a nominee(s)) as he may consider necessary into incidents that constitute or may be capable of constituting Misconduct on the part of Players and/or Persons and/or Rugby Bodies within their jurisdiction in accordance with Regulation 20. 20.6.2 In the context of a Match or tournament, the role of the designated disciplinary official may be delegated to the Citing Commissioner or the Citing Commissioner Liaison Officer, the Match commissioner or other suitable person. 20.6.3 For Matches forming part of the merit based appointment scheme that are not World Rugby Matches, in the event that a designated disciplinary officer is not appointed or the appointee is unable to fulfil the role or in the opinion of the Disciplinary Officer cannot independently exercise such role, then in such circumstances the Disciplinary Officer on behalf of World Rugby may appoint the designated disciplinary officer including himself. 20.6.4 Where a Misconduct investigation is into the activities of a Union, Association or Tournament Organiser and/or its appointed personnel, the designated disciplinary officer shall be independent of the Union, Association and/or Tournament Organiser. If in the reasonable opinion of the Disciplinary Officer, the Union, Association or Tournament Organiser is unable to independently exercise such role, then the Disciplinary Officer may on behalf of World Rugby appoint the designated disciplinary officer including himself. 20.6.5 Nothing in this Regulation shall limit or restrict the right of the Disciplinary Officer on behalf of World Rugby to appoint a designated disciplinary officer to undertake such investigations as he may consider necessary into incidents that constitute or may be capable of constituting Misconduct or acts which have the potential to bring the Game or World Rugby into disrepute on the part of Players, Persons, Unions, Associations and/or Rugby Bodies. This provision shall apply equally to situations where no action or insufficient action has been taken by the Union, Association or Tournament Organiser. 20.6.6 No person who is a member or a paid employee of a Union or other affiliated organisation responsible for the management of either team participating in a Match shall be eligible for appointment as a designated disciplinary official. Last update: 14 January, 2015 301


World Rugby Handbook
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