Decision as to the Eligibility of Jason Jones-Hughes

The Executive Committee of the International Rugby Board (IRB) met on September 5th to consider the appeal of the Welsh Rugby Union against the decision of the Regulations Committee on the eligibility of Jason Jones-Hughes. The decision to uphold the appeal means that Jason Jones-Hughes is now eligible to play for Wales. The International Rugby Board’s Regulations Committee had originally considered the application from the Welsh Rugby Union for a ruling on the eligibility of Jason Jones-Hughes to play for Wales at a meeting on July 6th. The Australian Rugby Union submitted evidence to show that Jason Jones-Hughes had played for the Australian Barbarians, Australia’s next Senior Representative Team, against the touring Scotland Team on June 9th, 1998. IRB Regulations on eligibility prevent a player from changing countries once he has appeared for the Senior National Team, (i.e. its Test team), or for the next Senior National Team, against the equivalent teams of another Union. The IRB’s Regulations Committee considered the evidence submitted by both Unions and decided in favour of Australia. Wales then appealed the decision to the Executive Committee. At its September 5th meeting in Dublin, the Committee overturned the original ruling that Jason Jones-Hughes was ineligible to play for Wales. The Executive Committee upheld Australia’s position that, on the date of the game, the Australian Barbarians were the Union’s next Senior National Team. However, having reviewed the matter, the Executive Committee did not accept that the Scottish Team that played in the relevant match (against the Australian Barbarians) was the Senior National Representative Team of the SRU, as determined by the Regulations Committee. In addition, the Executive Committee held that, in the relevant match, the Scottish Team was not the next Senior National Representative Team of Scotland. The Scottish Rugby Union had not designated it as such but as “A Scottish XV” and participation in such a team would not impact upon the status of a player for eligibility purposes. In the circumstances, although the player played for the next Senior National Representative Team of a Union (the AB’s) the Relevant Match was not played against the Senior National Representative Team or the next Senior National Representative Team of another Union. Accordingly, pursuant to Regulation 7, Jason Jones-Hughes is eligible to play for Wales. New Regulations have come into effect as of 1st September 1999 which will further clarify matters in relation to the categorisation of teams for eligibility purposes. In addition, the IRB’s Working Party on the Regulations relating to the Game will be reviewing the outcome of this particular case with a view to ensuring that all those issues considered by the Executive Committee are addressed. For further information please contact the IRB Stephen Baines, Chief Executive Officer, Tel: +353 1 662 5444, Fax: +353 1 676 9334 Website: www.irfb.com