REGULATION 20 20.7 Initial Procedures – Misconduct 20.7.1 The designated disciplinary official (or his nominee) shall be entitled to undertake such investigations as he may consider necessary into incidents that constitute or may be capable of constituting Misconduct involving any Player, Person and/or Rugby Body within his jurisdiction. Every Union, Association, Rugby Body, Player and Person shall be obliged to cooperate with any such investigations, referrals and/or hearings and a failure to cooperate with such investigation may itself constitute Misconduct under this Regulation. 20.7.2 Subject to the provisions of this Regulation 20, the designated disciplinary official shall determine whether to investigate an incident or incidents and/or to bring a Misconduct complaint against any Player, Person and/or a Rugby Body within his jurisdiction and his decision in respect of both initiating an investigation and/or bringing a Misconduct complaint shall be final. 20.7.3 Notwithstanding Regulation 20.7.1 where the designated disciplinary officer has reason to believe that an act or acts of Misconduct may have been committed by a Union or Association, he must immediately inform the Disciplinary Officer of World Rugby, in writing. The Disciplinary Officer or his nominee shall then deal with the matter as he considers appropriate. 20.7.4 In cases involving conduct and/or behaviour that in the opinion of the designated disciplinary officer of a Host Union are more appropriately dealt with by a visiting Union, or World Rugby, the designated disciplinary officer may, on behalf of the Host Union, refer the matter to the visiting Union or World Rugby to deal with. 20.7.5 In cases involving conduct and/or behaviour that in the opinion of the designated disciplinary officer of the Tournament Organiser are more appropriately dealt with by the Union of the Player or Person concerned or World Rugby, the designated disciplinary officer may, on behalf of the Tournament Organiser refer the matter to the Union of the Player or Person concerned or World Rugby to deal with. 20.7.6 Where any referral is made to World Rugby, World Rugby shall determine if it is appropriate in all the circumstances to take over the matter. Where World Rugby agrees to take up the matter, the relevant Union or Tournament Organiser shall assist World Rugby with the case (and/or investigation) and shall be responsible for payment of any unrecovered costs arising from the referral. 20.7.7 If a matter is referred to a visiting Union, pursuant to Regulation 20.7.4 above, or is referred to the Union of the Player or Person concerned, pursuant to Regulation 20.7.5 then the visiting Union or Union of the Player or Person concerned shall be obliged to progress the matter in accordance with disciplinary procedures which shall be based on those set out in this Regulation and shall advise the Disciplinary Officer of World Last update: 14 January, 2015 302
World Rugby Handbook
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