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[[Beeld:Irb.gif|right|thumb|Kenteken van die Internasionale Rugbyraad.]]
Die '''Internasionale Rugbyraad''' (IRR) is die wêreldwye bestuursliggaam wat die reëls van [[rugby]] beheer. Die liggaam is in 1886 in die lewe geroep as die '''Internasionale Rugby Voetbalraad''' deur die Skotse-, Walliese- en Ierse rugbyrade. Die Engelse rugbyraad het aanvanklik geweier om deel te neem, maar het in 1890 een van die eerste nie stigterslede geword om aan te sluit.<ref name="Rugby museum">Museum of Rugby, Short history of rugby [http://www.rfu.com/microsites/museum/index.cfm?fuseaction=faqs.history], laas nagegaan op 14 Julie 2006</ref><ref name="Dallas Hist">Dallas RFC, History of Rugby [http://dallasrugby.org/blog/history-of-rugby/], Laaslaas nagegaan op 14 Julie 2006</ref> Die raad is in 1997 herdoop tot die Internasionale rugbyraad. Die IRR se hoofkantoor is in [[Dublin]], [[Ierland]].<ref name="IRB Organisation">International Rugby Board, IRB Organisation [http://www.irb.com/EN/IRB+Organisation/], laas nagegaan op 14 Julie 2006</ref>
Die IRR het 95 Unies as volle lede, 20 assosiaatlede en ses plaaslike verenigings. Die volle lede unies vergader tweekeer 'n jaar en die plaaslike verenigings hou gereelde vergaderings.<ref name="IRB Organisation" /> Die IRR reël van die sport se internasionale kompetisies, met die [[Rugby Wêreldbeker]] (wat elke vier jaar plaasvind) as die gewildste en winsgewendste toernooi soos blyk uit die [[Pond sterling|£]]81.8 miljoen bruto inkomste wat tydens die [[Rugbywêreldbeker 2003|2003 toernooi]] geïn is.<ref name="RWC Hist rfh.com">Rugby Football History, Rugby World Cup History [http://rugbyfootballhistory.com/world_cup.htm], nagegaan op 14 July 2006]</ref>
==Verwysings==
{{reflistVerwysings}}
==Eksterne skakels==
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* {{en}}[http://www.irb.com/ Die IRR se amptelike webtuiste]
==History==
* {{en}}[http://www.irb.com/EN/Laws+and+Regulations/ IRBIRR These Laws of rugby unionbywette] ▼Until [[1885]], the laws of [[rugby football]] were made by England, as the founder union. However, following a disputed [[try]] in an international between [[Scotland national rugby union team|Scotland]] and [[England national rugby union team|England]], letters were exchanged, in which England claimed they made the laws, and the try should stand.<ref name="Rugby museum" /> In 1885, Scotland refused to play England. Following the dispute, the [[Home Nations|home unions]] of Scotland, Ireland and Wales founded the International Rugby Football Board. England refused to take part, stating that they should have greater representation, as they have more clubs.<ref name="1880's RFC hist">{{cite web | work=Rugby Football History |title = 1880s |url=http://www.rugbyfootballhistory.com/timeline1880s.htm| accessdate=15 July | accessyear=2006}}</ref> The England Union also refused to accept the IRFB as the recognised law maker of the game.<ref name="1880's RFC hist" /> This led to the IRFB taking the stance of member countries not playing England until they joined. In 1890, England joined the IRFB.<ref name="Rugby museum" /> The same year, the IRFB wrote the first international laws of rugby union.<ref name="ARU Hist">{{cite web | work=rugby.com.au |title = History of the Game |url=http://www.rugby.com.au/community_rugby/what_is_rugby/history_of_the_game,24.html| accessdate=15 July| accessyear=2006}}</ref>
* {{en}}[http://www.irb.com/en/World+Rankings/world+rankings+full.htm IRBDie WorldIRR Rankingsse wêreldranglys] ▼
In [[1893]], the IRFB was faced with the divide between [[amateurism]] and [[professionalism]], which was nicknamed the "Great Schism". Following the introduction of working class men to the game in Northern England, clubs began paying "broken time" payments to players, due to the loss of earnings from playing on a Saturday.<ref name="1890s RFC hist">{{cite web | work=rugbyfootballhistory.com |title =1890s |url=http://www.rugbyfootballhistory.com/timeline1890s.htm| accessdate=15 July| accessyear=2006}}</ref> Cumberland County Union also complained of another club using monetary incentives to lure players, leading to the IRFB conducting an enquiry. The IRFB was warned by all the chief clubs in [[Lancashire]] and [[Yorkshire]] that any punishment would lead to the clubs seceding from the union.<ref name="1890s RFC hist" />. The debate of broken time payments ultimately led to the 22 leading clubs in Yorkshire and Lancashire to form the [[Northern Rugby Union]], a sport today known as [[rugby league|rugby league football]].<ref name="1890s RFC hist" />
It is thought that in the late 1950s the IRFB was presented with the ideas of a world championship.<ref name="wcweb">{{cite web | publisher=worldcupweb.com | title=The History of RWC |url=http://www.worldcupweb.com/WCrugby/history.asp| accessdate=28 July | accessyear=2006}}</ref> Then, in the early 1980s, the IRFB were presented with a proposal for a world championship on one of the [[British Isles]]. Then in 1983 the [[New Zealand Rugby Union]] and [[Australian Rugby Union]] each proposed hosting such a tournament. The following year the board committed to conduct a feasibility study. A year later there was another meeting in [[Paris]], and the Union subsequently voted on the idea. It was the [[South African Rugby Union]]'s vote that proved to be crucial, as they voted in favour, even though they knew they would be excluded. English and Welsh votes were then changed, and the vote was won 10 to 6.<ref name="wcweb"/>
==Competitions==
[[Image:World Cup Telstra stadium.jpg|thumb|left|Telstra Stadium in [[2003 Rugby World Cup|2003]].]]
The first [[Rugby World Cup]] was held in [[1987 Rugby World Cup|New Zealand and Australia in 1987]]. Since then the World Cup has been held every four years, with the most recent held in [[2007 Rugby World Cup|France in 2007]]. It has become the third biggest international sporting event, behind the [[Summer Olympic Games]] and the [[FIFA World Cup]].<ref name="amlink">{{cite web | title=''events'' scores at Rugby WorldCup | url=http://www.amlinkevents.com/cm.esp?id=420000&pageid=_1VV0TUHSN | work=amlinkevents.com | accessdate=2007-03-17}}</ref><ref name="ausgov">{{cite web | last=Harcourt | first=Tim | title=From the World Trade Organisation to the Rugby World Cup: how the Wallabies can help Australia exports | url=http://www.austrade.gov.au/From-the-World-Trade-Organisation-to-the-Rugby-World-Cup-how-the-Wallabies-can-help-Australia-exports/default.aspx | work=austrade.gov.au | accessdate=2007-03-17}}</ref>
Rugby World Cup Ltd., which is directed by the IRB, owns all rights associated with the World Cup. Due to its size, the revenues from the World Cup contribute much to the funds that the IRB distributes to the rugby unions, to aid and assist them in their development.
The IRB also sanctions the [[Women's Rugby World Cup]], though the first two women's event were not sanctioned by the board, and indeed the first event in [[1991 Women's Rugby World Cup|Wales in 1991]] went ahead despite IRB opposition. The tournament is now held every four years in the year before the men's event.
The IRB is responsible for the organising of several competitions involving [[rugby sevens]], as opposed to the full 15-a side game. The [[2005-06 World Sevens Series|2005-06]] [[IRB Sevens World Series|World Sevens Series]] had a potential audience reach of 475 million, being broadcast in over 130 countries, and has been witnessing massive growth in recent years.<ref name="sevens">{{cite web | publisher=scrum.com | title=IRB hail success of Sevens |url=http://www.scrum.com/news/news_detail.asp?newsid=37045| accessdate=28 July | accessyear=2006}}</ref>
The [[Scottish Rugby Union]] proposed the idea of a [[Rugby World Cup Sevens|World Cup for sevens]]. The idea was given the green light, and was held in Scotland in 1993 for the first time, Scotland being the traditional home of sevens, as it was actually created there. Nine national unions expressed their interest in hosting the 2009 event due to its popularity. Unions from the Arabian Gulf, Australia, Hong Kong, Kenya, Netherlands, Portugal, Russia, South Africa and USA all expressed their intent to host the tournament; the IRB opted for the Arabian Gulf bid, and the 2009 event will be held in [[Dubai]]. The 2009 event will also feature a women's competition for sevens for the first time as well.
In addition to the World Cups for the national men's and women's teams, as well as a number of sevens comptitions, the IRB organises a number of other tournaments around the world. The IRB is committed to developing rugby in North America, and as such, runs the [[Churchill Cup]] and the [[Super Powers Cup]], as well as more recently, the [[North America 4]], with an aim of creating long-term professional rugby leagues in North America. The IRB has a similar presence in the Pacific Rim, running the [[Pacific Rugby Cup]], as well as the [[Pacific Nations Cup]]. The IRB also recently created the [[Nations Cup]], which aims to develop rugby union in Portugal and Russia, as well as enabling the Argentina and Italy 'A' teams to have regular competition. The IRB also runs the [[under 21 Rugby World Championship]], as well as the [[under 19 Rugby World Championship|under 19 version]].
==Olympics==
{{seealso|Rugby union at the Summer Olympics}}
The sport of rugby union has been played at the Summer Olympics on four occasions, with the last being in 1924. The winners, and thus the reigning champions, were the [[United States national rugby union team|U.S.]] team. Rugby union made one more appearance as a demonstration event but was then removed from the games. The IRB has most recently been very keen to see it return to the Games and is adamant that the sport (specifically referring to [[rugby sevens]]) satisfies every respect of the criteria set out in the Olympic Charter.<ref name="olympics">{{cite web | publisher=irb.com | title=Rugby & The Olympic Games |url=http://www.irb.com/EN/IRB+Organisation/Olympics/| accessdate=28 July | accessyear=2006}}</ref>
The IRB cites rugby union's global participation, with men playing the game in well over 100 countries, with women playing in over 50 as well; the IRB's compliance with the [[World Anti-Doping Agency|World Anti-Doping Code]]; and that a rugby sevens tournament could be (and generally is) accommodated in one stadium and is relatively inexpensive to play.<ref name="olympics"/> Not only is the sevens game successful in the context of the Sevens World Series and World Cup Sevens, it is also very successfully played in the [[Commonwealth Games]]; the [[Rugby Sevens at the 2006 Commonwealth Games|sevens tournament]] at [[2006 Commonwealth Games|the 2006 Games]] in [[Melbourne]] set all-time attendance records for a sevens tournament.
==Funding==
[[Image:Japan v Tonga at Kitakyushu.JPG|thumb|right|Japan playing Tonga in the Pacific Five Nations, 2006.]]
The IRB have recently released £18.6 million of funding over three years for tier two nations [[Canada national rugby union team|Canada]], [[United States national rugby union team|the USA]], [[Japan national rugby union team|Japan]], [[Romania national rugby union team|Romania]], [[Fiji national rugby union team|Fiji]], [[Samoa national rugby union team|Samoa]] and [[Tonga national rugby union team|Tonga]]. [[Argentina national rugby union team|Argentina]] will also receive additional support to enable it to retain its tier one status. The money, built up from successful World Cups, was released following a report commissioned by the IRB highlighting the growing disparity between tier one and tier two nations. (see [http://www.irb.com/InTouch/Press/050804+SL+investment.htm IRB statement]). This is in addition to the £10-12 million it normally gives out grants and tournament costs. The emphasis is on three areas infrastructure, high performance units and cross border competitions. Three new crossborder competitions involving Tier 2 nations were launched in 2006:
*The [[Pacific Nations Cup|IRB Pacific 5 Nations]], a competition involving the full national teams of Fiji, Samoa, Tonga, and Japan, plus New Zealand's "senior A" side, the Junior All Blacks and Australia A.
*The [[Pacific Rugby Cup]], a competition similar to the [[Super 14]] with two franchises each from Fiji, Samoa and Tonga
*The [[North America 4]], a competition similar to the Pacific Rugby Cup, with two franchises each from Canada and the USA
It was announced in April of 2006 that tier-3 rugby nations; [[Georgia national rugby union team|Georgia]], [[Portugal national rugby union team|Portugal]], [[Tunisia national rugby union team|Tunisia]] and [[Russia national rugby union team|Russia]] were identified as the key investment nations over the next three years. The program is designed to increase the competitiveness of international rugby union.
==Structure==
The Executive Council meets twice a year. It consists of eight Unions with two seats each: [[Scottish Rugby Union|Scotland]], [[Irish Rugby Football Union|Ireland]], [[Welsh Rugby Union|Wales]], [[Rugby Football Union|England]], [[Australian Rugby Union|Australia]], [[New Zealand Rugby Football Union|New Zealand]], [[South African Rugby Union|South Africa]] and [[French Rugby Federation|France]]. Four unions have one seat each: [[Argentine Rugby Union|Argentina]], [[Rugby Canada|Canada]], [[Italian Rugby Federation|Italy]] and [[Japan Rugby Football Union|Japan]] as does [[FIRA - Association of European Rugby|FIRA–AER]]. The full membership meets at a General Meeting which is convened every two years. Regional meetings are held at regular intervals.<ref name="IRB Organisation"/> The current chairman of the IRB is Dr. Syd Millar.
==Laws and regulations==
The [[Rugby union#Game laws and methods|laws of rugby union]] are controlled by a standing Laws Committee, which is established by the IRB Council. The current chairman of the committee is [[Bill Beaumont]]. The Laws of the Game are formulated by the IRB, and are then circulated by the national Unions. The official laws of the game are written in English, French, Russian and Spanish. There are variations for under-19 and Sevens rugby. There are 21 regulations in total, these regulations range from definitions, eligibility, advertising, disciplinary, anti-doping and a number of other areas. The IRB also approves equipment, which are tested at an IRB Approved Testing House.
==Anti-doping==
The IRB is compliant with the WADA code. The IRB anti doping programme includes testing at the under 19 and under 21 level, sevens and senior 15 a side. Testing is a mix of in-competition at IRB organised events, as well as out-of-competition testing, which can occur at any time. In 2003, World Cup year, the IRB member unions undertook approximately 3,000 tests.<ref name="antidoping">{{cite web | publisher=irb.com | title=IRB adopts WADA code |url=http://www.irb.com/EN/Education+and+Training/Anti+doping/Anti+doping+news/mig_antidoping_21.htm| accessdate=28 July | accessyear=2006}}</ref> "Keep Rugby Clean" is a campaign message run by the IRB Anti-Doping Manager Tim Ricketts. The programme is supported by stars such as [[Brian O'Driscoll]].<ref name="clean">{{cite web | publisher=irb.com | title=Keep Rugby Clean |url=http://www.irb.com/EN/Education+and+Training/Anti+doping/Anti+doping+news/060411+kb+keep+rugby+clean+day.htm| accessdate=28 July | accessyear=2006}}</ref>
==World rankings==
The IRB publishes and maintains the [[IRB World Rankings|World Rankings]] of the men's national rugby union teams. The concept was launched in October of 2003, at the start of [[2003 Rugby World Cup|that year's world cup]] in Australia. The rankings are calculated using a Points Exchange system, whereby nations take points off each other based on a match result. Several years of research went into developing the rankings system, using an extensive database of international matches that date back to 1871.
The system's reliability is assessed in a number of objective ways, which includes predictions of current strength and responds to changes in form. The system takes into account home advantage, in that the home nation is treated as though it has an extra three rating points, effectively handicapping them, as they will gain less ranking points for a win, and lose more should they lose. In the case of a freak result, there is a maximum number of movements on the ranking that any nation can gain from one match.
If a nation does not play for a number of years they are considered dormant, and excluded from the rankings, upon returning, picking up from where they were excluded. If a nation is to merge or split, the highest rating of any of the rankings is inherited.
Currently all capped international matches are equally weighted, whether or not they take place within a [[List_of_rugby_union_competitions#National_tournaments|competition]] or are played as [[friendly_match|friendlies]]; the sole exception to this is the final of the World Cup.
==Recognitions and awards==
The [[IRB Awards]] are an annual event that honour outstanding achievement in rugby union. The awards began in 2001. The last ceremony was held in [[Paris]] on [[27 November]] [[2005]]. There are 13 awards in total, ranging from yearly performance in terms of [[IRB International Player of the Year|player]], [[IRB International Team of the Year|national team]] and [[IRB International Coach of the Year|coach]], as well as those that honour service to the game, spirit, as well as development. Generally, the awards, at least the ones given on a year's recognition, are swept by that particular season's most successful nation(s); France in 2002, England 2003, South Africa 2004, New Zealand in 2005 and so on. For the award categories that have nominees, they are shortlisted by the Awards' independent panel of judges, which is made up of a number of former internationals, which in total, the judges have 503 [[Cap (sport)|caps]] between them. The current judges are; [[Francois Pienaar]], [[Michael Niko Jones|Michael Jones]], [[Gavin Hastings]], [[Jonathan Davies]], [[Dan Lyle]], [[Federico Mendez]] and past Player of the Year winners [[Fabien Galthie]] and [[Keith Wood]], as well as convenor [[John Eales]].
In 2006 the [[IRB Hall of Fame]] was established to chronicle achievement and the special contribution of the sport's players, coaches, administrators, match officials, institutions and other individuals. At the 2006 IRB Awards, the Hall of Fame was inaugurated, with the first two inductees being named as [[William Webb Ellis]] and the [[Rugby school]].
==References==
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==External links==
* [http://www.irb.com/ International Rugby Board - official website]
▲* [http://www.irb.com/EN/Laws+and+Regulations/ IRB The Laws of rugby union]
▲* [http://www.irb.com/en/World+Rankings/world+rankings+full.htm IRB World Rankings]
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