Welsh regions win a key battle

The Welsh rugby regions have won a major battle in their ongoing row with the Welsh Rugby Union over player release for the coming November internationals.

The Welsh rugby regions have won a major battle in their ongoing row with the Welsh Rugby Union over player release for the coming November internationals.

The International Rugby Board has announced that it will not get involved in the battle, stating in an official release that it was beyond their jurisdiction.

The full statement released says:

The Regulations Committee first reviewed the issue of jurisdiction. Based on the circumstances presented the Regulations Committee considered that it did not have jurisdiction to issue a ruling in this matter. In arriving at this position the Regulations Committee had regard to, inter alia, the private contractual nature of the scenario presented and the fact that, in essence, the issues related to an internal domestic dispute between a Union and its constituents in respect of the scope, terms and/or application of a private contractual arrangement governing Player release.

In arriving at its decision on jurisdiction it was noted that pursuant to the IRB Bye-Laws (Bye-Law 3, Objectives and functions of the Board) the IRB decides and/or settles disputes between two or more Unions relating to the application of the Regulations and controls all other matters of an international character affecting the Game. These principles are consistent with the role of the IRB as the international governing body responsible for dealing with cross-border international matters in respect of its Regulations (and the interpretation/implementation thereof) and non-internal domestic and/or private contractual disputes and/or scenarios.

The response will come as a bitter blow to the WRU, who had hoped the IRB would at least act in some manner to order the regions to act in accordance with Warren Gatland's compromise.