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World Rugby Handbook

REGULATION 9 9.6 Designated Release Events The Right to Release for Matches applies to the Designated Release Events set out below whenever such Designated Release Events are held. All Players selected to participate in Designated Release Events shall be released. (a) Union Designated Release Events: (i) The quadrennial Rugby World Cup Tournament and qualification Matches. (ii) The quadrennial Rugby World Cup Sevens event. (iii) An Olympic Sevens Rugby event and qualification Matches. (b) Combined Teams Designated Release Events: (i) The quadrennial British and Irish Lions Tour is a Designated Event and all Players selected to participate shall be released. The Release Period shall ordinarily commence on 1 June and ordinarily conclude on the 2nd weekend of July in the relevant year. (ii) The quadrennial Tour of the Combined Team of the Pacific Islands Unions (Fiji, Samoa and Tonga) is a Designated Event and all Players selected to participate shall be released. The Tour will take place in the November window in the relevant year. 9.7 Global Release Periods There are two Global Release Periods. (a) The June window The Right to Release for Matches shall apply to each of the senior National Representative Team, the next senior National Representative Team and the Under 20 National Representative Team of a Union in respect of all International Matches, International Tours and International Tournaments played over a period of three weekends in June each year, save in a Rugby World Cup year, during which year the June window shall not operate in respect of Unions that qualified for the Rugby World Cup. Unless Council approves otherwise the three weekends in June shall be the second, third and fourth weekends. (b) The November window The Right to Release for Matches shall apply to each of the senior National Representative Team, the next senior National Representative Team and the Under 20 National Representative Team of a Union in respect of all International Matches, International Tours and International Tournaments played over a period of three Last update: 14 January, 2015 157


World Rugby Handbook
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