Nigel Owens keeping watch over England v Australia during the Cook Cup
The on-field disciplinary process for Rugby World Cup 2011 deals with Illegal and/or Foul Play and Misconduct. It reflects the citing, hearing and sanctioning process which applies across international Rugby as set out in IRB Regulation 17, but under expedited timeframes for the seven week tournament. Rugby World Cup 2011 will benefit from the most experienced Citing Commissioners and Judicial Officers selected on merit from the elite international Game to act in such roles at the Tournament.
The appointment of Citing Commissioners, Judicial Officers and Appeal Committees during the Tournament is based upon neutrality considerations.
Citing Process
A Citing Commissioner from a neutral country will be appointed for each of the 48 Matches in the Tournament. The Citing Commissioner will review the Match live and from recordings. He will have access to all the available Match clips from the host broadcaster SKY NZ. The Citing Commissioner may cite a Player for an act of Illegal and/or Foul Play contrary to Law 10.4 of the Laws of the Game within 36 hours of the conclusion of the Match.
Team Referral
Teams may refer incidents of alleged Illegal and/or Foul Play to the Citing Commissioner for review within 12 hours of the conclusion of the Match but only the Citing Commissioner has the power to cite a Player.
Citing Hearing
If a Player is cited he will have a hearing before an independent Judicial Officer, ordinarily within 48 hours of the conclusion of the Match. The Judicial Officer will review the available evidence (including footage of the incident and Match and/or medical reports and other evidence as appropriate to the case). Every Player will be given an opportunity to present his case and has the right to be represented. The Judicial Officer will then determine if the citing should be upheld and, if so, what sanction, if any, from the IRB Recommended Table of Sanctions is appropriate in the circumstances taking into account all the relevant off-field mitigating features (e.g. the Player’s good disciplinary record) and aggravating features (e.g. non-admission of guilt or the need for a deterrent).
Red Card Hearing
If a Player receives three yellow cards (in either the pool phase or the knockout phase of the Tournament) or a red card he will have a hearing before an independent Judicial Officer, ordinarily within 36 hours of the conclusion of the Match where he was ordered off or in which he received the third yellow card.
The Judicial Officer will review the available evidence (including footage of the incident and Match and/or medical reports and other evidence as appropriate to the case). Every Player will be given an opportunity to present his case and has the right to be represented. The Judicial Officer needs to determine first that an act of Illegal and/or Foul Play has been committed and if so proceed through the detailed disciplinary process to consider the appropriate sanction that should apply from the IRB Recommended Table of Sanctions taking into account all the relevant off-field mitigating features (e.g. the Player’s good disciplinary record) and aggravating features (e.g. non-admission of guilt or the need for a deterrent).
Appeals
In all cases, Players may appeal against the decision of a Judicial Officer within 48 hours of the initial decision being rendered (orally or in writing whichever is first). The Tournament Organiser, Rugby World Cup Limited, has no right of appeal. Appeals will be heard by an independent Appeal Committee of three persons comprised of a leading Judicial Officer (acting as Chairman), another Judicial Officer and/or rugby administrator and/or an eminent former player. The appointed Appeal Committee members shall be independent, neutral and shall not have been involved with the initial decision.
Ordinarily all hearings and appeals will be conducted before the Player’s next Match.