Anti-Doping Judicial Panel Member (Legal) - (World Rugby)

World Rugby is the world governing and law-making body for the sport of Rugby Union. In addition to its governance functions, World Rugby organizes a number of major international tournaments and events, such as the Rugby World Cups (women's and men's), the annual Rugby Sevens Series and the developmental Women's WV international tournament.

World Rugby is now on a mission to innovate to excite, inspire and engage new audiences in existing and new rugby markets, to grow the sport for all. Through World Rugby Events & Media (WREM), the delivery of major tournaments under a new model will be key to the success of a ten year strategic plan which will see Rugby World Cups in England in 2025, Australia in 2027 & 2029, and culminating in ground breaking tournaments in the USA in 2031 and 2033. Under the new model, World Rugby will have a more direct role in the setting up, running and delivery of the Rugby World Cups and aims to be the leader in the delivery of major international events

Role Type: Contractor, part time/ad-hoc
Term: Fixed Term, 2 years

World Rugby Anti-Doping

The World Rugby Anti-Doping programme uses education, awareness, and testing to prevent and detect doping, and to safeguard the integrity of the game.

As an International Federation, World Rugby is a signatory to the World Anti-Doping Code (WADC) operating in compliance with its International Standards.

Role Overview

World Rugby are looking to appoint experienced legal practitioners to serve on its independent Anti-Doping Judicial Panel (ADJP) on an ad-hoc basis. Members of the ADJP are responsible for hearing and adjudicating Anti-Doping cases in rugby. The role of the appointee would be to primarily act as a case Chair but in certain circumstances they may act as a non-Chairing panel member. The role involves reviewing evidence, applying World Rugby’s Anti-Doping Rules (Regulation 21), and making fair and impartial decisions to uphold the integrity of the sport. This position is integral to promoting clean sport and maintaining a fair competitive environment for all participants in accordance with Regulation 21 and the WADC. Anti-Doping Judicial Panels are appointed by the World Rugby Judicial Panel Chair on a case-by-case basis.

Legal members of the ADJP are independent contractors and are not employed by World Rugby. Appointment to a case is not guaranteed during a term.

Duties

Legal members of the ADJP shall:

Prepare for hearings by reviewing relevant documents to familiarise themselves with the case.
Ensure that parties can present their case and take initiative to ensure that all relevant legal/factual issues are heard.
Explore the evidence and scrutinise the legal positions presented by the parties.
Issue orders or directions in accordance with the applicable procedural rules before the hearing.
Decide on issues of law and procedure which may arise during a hearing and give interim orders or directions as appropriate to the circumstances.
Decide cases by identifying and evaluating the key legal/factual issues and making decisions in accordance with the relevant rules.
Write and issue a reasoned decision within applicable timetables.

Key Experience and Skills

Below are the criteria against which legal members of the ADJP will be considered. No person who is a current office holder or employee of a World Rugby Member Union in the last year shall be eligible for appointment to the ADJP.

Legal representatives of the ADJP shall:

be senior legal practitioners of at least seven years standing or serving or retired judges independent of Unions/Associations who may serve as Chair; and
have recent (i.e. within the last 2 years) judicial experience in Anti-Doping case hearings; and
have an in-depth recent knowledge of the WADC and its International Standards.

Legal members of the ADJP must show decisiveness, objectivity, and impartiality.

Further, they shall be able to:

Chair meetings and hearings.
Work collaboratively and as part of a team with others.
Reach collegiate decisions.
Inspire respect and confidence.
Maintain authority when challenged.
Work at speed and under pressure.
Organise time efficiently and produce clear reasoned decisions expeditiously.
Engage in training and feedback to retain up-to-date knowledge of the WADC and its International Standards.
Engage positively with all judicial colleagues and World Rugby employees and volunteers.

Hearings and communications with participants, their representatives, Unions and fellow panel members are ordinarily conducted in English. Legal members of the ADJP must be able to conduct proceedings and draft written decisions in English. A fluency in another/other World Rugby language/s (French and Spanish) is an advantage.

Legal members of the ADJP must have the capacity and flexibility to commit to potential hearing timetables across multiple time zones.

Benefits/Pay

A fee of £150 per hour (capped at £3,000 per case) upon receipt of invoice is payable to Chairs of Anti-Doping Judicial Panels for their time spent preparing and attending Anti-Doping case hearings, which includes drafting written decisions.

An attendance fee of £500 per case upon receipt of invoice is payable to non-Chairing members of Anti-Doping Judicial Panels for their time spent preparing and attending Anti-Doping case hearings.

World Rugby makes no commitment to the number of cases to which a Chair or non-Chairing member of the ADJP may be appointed during a term.

Diversity, Equity & Inclusion:

World Rugby is committed to building a diverse workforce and therefore strongly encourages applications from underrepresented groups. We are committed to equality and inclusion and welcome applications from all individuals, regardless of their background. We strive to be a diverse and inclusive workplace, which reflects the global sport we want to be and where everyone can be themselves and feel they belong.