Evans appointed RFU Head of Rugby Judiciary

Jun 12 • General News, International • 1847 Views • Comments Off on Evans appointed RFU Head of Rugby Judiciary

Philip Evans QC has been appointed as the Rugby Football Union’s second independent Head of Rugby Judiciary. He will assume the role vacated by Sir James Dingemans, who is stepping down at the end of this season.

The post was created in 2013 to ensure independence between the prosecutorial and judicial functions of the RFU’s Legal and Governance department.

Philip has been a member of the RFU’s independent judiciary since 2009, sitting as chairman on panels both at first instance and at the appeal level. He has given judgments in several high profile rugby matters and acted as Judicial Officer for European Professional Club Rugby and World Rugby.

He is appointed for a term of three years, which begins on 1 August 2017 and runs until the end of the 2019/20 season.

Ian Ritchie, RFU Chief Executive said: “We look forward to welcoming Philip to this role. He has a breadth of experience that will be very important in ensuring we continue to meet all the objectives of the disciplinary system in England. This is a significant role working alongside our discipline department and I’m confident he will do a great job continuing the progress made by Sir James.”

Philip added: “I’m honored and privileged to have been selected as the next head of the independent RFU judiciary. Discipline has a vital role within the game and I look forward to overseeing and continuing to develop the system, whilst working to uphold rugby’s core values.”

Philip was made Queen’s Counsel in 2016 after being called to the Bar in 1995. He has expertise in serious and complex crime and regulation. A member of both the Association of Regulatory and Disciplinary Lawyers and the British Association for Sport and Law, Philip has extensive experience of regulatory and disciplinary law, particularly in a sporting context. As well as across rugby, he has worked within horse racing and various other sports.

Philip is an avid rugby union fan, continuing an interest developed from playing for over 15 years including at national league level.