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World Rugby Handbook

REGULATION 4 EXPLANATORY NOTE 1.4 Each Union must develop standard form written agreements for use by itself or its Clubs and Rugby Bodies, (as appropriate) and Players within their jurisdiction.9 1.5 Each Club or Rugby Body must submit copies of all written agreements with Players to its Union. 2. Obtaining a Clearance 2.1 Under Regulation 4 a Clearance system will continue to be operated by World Rugby. Any Player leaving his Current Union will not be eligible to participate in competitions organised, recognised or sanctioned by a New Union unless he has received a Clearance to do so. 2.2 Clearances will only be accepted in the standard form set out in Appendix 1 and signed by the appropriate parties. 2.3 Where the Contract Player has not been registered with his current Union for a period of 12 months or more, then the current Union shall specify on the Clearance the period of rest the Contract Player has obtained during the period for which the Contract Player was with the current Union. “Rest” for the purposes of the Clearance shall mean the period during which the Contract Player did not participate in any Match(es) and shall not include injury periods. 2.4 A Clearance is not provisional in nature. It remains valid pursuant to Regulation 4 until it is replaced by a subsequent Clearance. 3. The Significance of Existing Written Agreements 3.1 Regulation 4 distinguishes between the movement of Players during the course of a written agreement, and the movement of Players who are either Non-Contract Players or Contract Players whose written agreement has expired. 3.2 A Contract Player may only move to another Union, Rugby Body or Club during the period of a written agreement if his existing Union, Rugby Body or Club, the Union, Rugby Body or Club he is proposing to join and the Player concur. 4. The principles of Compensation for Training and Development 4.1 In recognition of the investment made by Unions, Rugby Bodies and Clubs (as the case may be) in the training and development of Rugby Players, Regulation 4 provides that, in certain circumstances, compensation for the investment in a Player's training and development may be payable in respect of Non-Contract Players or Contract Players whose written agreement has expired. 9 Standardisation of Player written agreements serves a number of different purposes. The Union's and World Rugby's Regulations are expressly accepted by all Players, Rugby Bodies and Clubs. In addition, Unions can maintain a centralised register of Contract Players in order to monitor Player movement and identify the status of a Player at any given time, thereby easing the administration of Regulation 4. It will also assist Unions to apply internal compensation systems incorporating the principles and policies set out in Regulation 4. Last update: 14 January, 2015 93


World Rugby Handbook
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