World Rugby has assembled a vastly experienced team for the showcase event in Japan, with former Rugby World Cup participants among judicial panel selections. They have also enhanced the disciplinary process launched after RWC 2015 to further alignment and consistency.
Reflecting the international federation’s commitment to alignment between the on-field and off-field sanctioning process, the team has been selected on merit following a full review of recent international, cross-border and domestic performances and includes significant experience.
World Rugby’s Independent Judicial Panel Chairman and Sport Resolutions' panel member Christopher Quinlan QC said: “Our collective objective since Rugby World Cup 2015 has been to arrive at this Rugby World Cup with the disciplinary process in the best-possible shape, with a strong team ethic, integrated with match officials, to achieve consistent and accurate decision-making. This has been achieved through regular dedicated training and calibration workshops involving judicial personnel and citing commissioners working together with the match officials to drive consistency in approach and outcome. I am very pleased with, and grateful for, the significant contributions of the former international players, referees and coaches in that process. I wish to thank all the team members and their unions for their complete support as we look forward to Japan 2019.”
As at Rugby World Cup 2019, 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 will have access to all the available angles and Hawk-Eye multi-camera feeds. The citing window will operate until 36 hours after the conclusion of the match.
Teams may refer incidents of alleged 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.
Disciplinary hearings will be convened within 48 hours of the match in order not to adversely impact on team preparation and decisions published immediately on conclusion.
The panel of eight citing commissioners is brimming with international experience and includes five members with previous Rugby World Cup experience, while the judicial panel members selection features former Scotland coach Frank Hadden, South Africa star Stefan Terblanche, England’s Leon Lloyd and referee of 19 tests, Ireland’s Donal Courtney.
Citing Commissioners: James Absaloms (Kenya)*, Freek Burger (South Africa)*, Shaun Gallagher (England), John Montgomery (Scotland), Scott Nowland (Australia)*, Michael O’Leary (New Zealand)*, David Pelton (USA) and Murray Whyte (Ireland)*
Judicial chairs: Adam Casselden SC (Australia)*, Jean-Noël Couraud (France)*, Sir James Dingemans (England)*, Mike Hamlin (England), Nigel Hampton QC (New Zealand), Alan Hudson (Canada)*, Roger Morris (Wales)*, Shao-Ing Wang (Singapore) and Pamela Woodman (Scotland)
* Denotes previous Rugby World Cup experience
Judicial panel members: Donal Courtney (Ireland, former international referee), David Croft (Australia, played at Rugby World Cup 2003), Frank Hadden (Scotland, head coach at Rugby World Cup 2007, pictured), Olly Kohn (former Wales international), John Langford (former Australia international), Leon Lloyd (former England international), José Luis Rolandi (Argentina, former international referee), Stefan Terblanche (South Africa, played at Rugby World Cup 1999 and 2003) and Valeriu Toma (Romania, former international assistant referee)
Please click here to view World Rugby’s full statement.
