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World Rugby Handbook

APPENDIX 1 REGULATION 18 (c) allow the remaining members of the Judicial Committee to hear the matter; or (d) appoint a Judicial Officer to take the place of the Judicial Committee. 2.5 Where a disciplinary hearing is pending, a Player may, prior to the hearing, be required by the Judicial Committee or Judicial Officer to: (a) supply it or him with full particulars of the case that will be presented on the Player’s behalf at the hearing and any witnesses intended to be called by the Player; (b) provide it or him with copies of any documents or reports that may be relied on by the Player at the hearing`; and (c) comply with such directions as shall be considered appropriate by the Judicial Committee or Judicial Officer at, or prior to, the hearing. 3. Judicial Committee and Judicial Officer - General Procedures 3.1 The general procedures relating to proceedings of Disciplinary Tribunals set out in Sections 1 and 2 above shall apply. 3.2 Any Union, Player, Person and/or Connected Person who is required to attend a hearing to answer charges or allegations shall be entitled to be represented at the hearing including by a Union representative and/or by legal counsel. Evidence 3.3 The Judicial Committee or Judicial Officer shall be entitled to receive such evidence and in such form as it thinks fit (including evidence in writing), notwithstanding the evidence may not be legally admissible and shall be entitled to attach such weight to that evidence as it/he sees fit. 3.4 First-hand accounts from persons present at the hearing as to their observations of the incident in question are to be preferred. Hearsay evidence may be accepted. However, caution will be exercised before hearsay evidence is accepted in preference to first hand evidence and generally less weight is likely to be given to hearsay evidence. 3.5 Judicial Committees or Judicial Officers should not permit the introduction of opinion evidence other than expert opinion evidence. Expert opinion evidence is only likely to be permitted when the evidence falls outside the everyday knowledge of members of the Judicial Committee or of the Judicial Officer. 3.6 Where a direction is given by a Judicial Committee or Judicial Officer it shall be the responsibility of the Union, the Player, Person or witness concerned to ensure that it is complied with, notwithstanding any travel or other arrangements that may need to be made and/or altered. In any case where a direction given by the Judicial Committee or Judicial Officer is not complied with, the Judicial Committee or Judicial Officer may refuse to Last update: 14 January, 2015 290


World Rugby Handbook
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