Codes of Conduct


IRB Code of Conduct
(Applicable to all Clubs and members of Clubs)

1. All Unions, Associations, Rugby Bodies, Clubs and Persons:-
1.1 must ensure that the Game is played and conducted in accordance with disciplined and sporting behaviour and acknowledge that it is not sufficient to rely solely upon the Match Officials to maintain those principles;
1.2 shall co-operate in ensuring that the spirit of the Laws of the Game is upheld and refrain from selecting players guilty of foul play;
1.3 shall not repeatedly breach the Laws of the Game;
1.4 shall accept and observe the authority and decisions of referees, touch judges, Match Officials and all other rugby disciplinary bodies, subject to Regulation 17;
1.5 shall not publish or cause to be published criticism of the manner in which a referee or touch judge handled a match;
1.6 shall not publish or cause to be published criticism of the manner in which Council or any other rugby disciplinary body handled or resolved any dispute or disciplinary matter resulting from a breach of the Bye-Laws, Regulations, or Laws of the Game;
1.7 shall not engage in any conduct or any activity on or off the field that may impair public confidence in the honest and orderly conduct of a Match, tour, tournament or Series of Matches (including, but not limited to, the supply of information in relation to the Game, directly or indirectly, to bookmarkers) or in the integrity and good character of any Person;
1.8 shall promote the reputation of the Game and take all possible steps to prevent it from being brought into disrepute;
1.9 shall not commit a Doping Offence as defined in Regulation 21;
1.10 shall not abuse, threaten or intimidate a referee, touch judge or other Match Official, whether on or off the field of play;
1.11 shall not use crude or abusive language or gestures towards referees, touch judges or other Match Officials or spectators;
1.12 shall not do anything which is likely to intimidate, offend, insult, humiliate or discriminate against any other Person on the ground of their religion, race, colour or national or ethnic origin;
1.13 shall not do anything which adversely affects the Game of Rugby Football, the Board, any member Union or any commercial partner of the Game;
2. Each Union and Association is under an obligation to:-
2.1 comply with and ensure that each of its members comply with this Code of Conduct; and
2.2 adopt procedures to monitor compliance with and impose sanctions for breaches of the Code of Conduct by Persons under its jurisdiction.