Welsh Rugby has long recognised the need for effective disciplinary rules together with equitable procedures to ensure that those rules are applied in a fair manner. These rules and procedures are together known as the Welsh Rugby Disciplinary Rules. Whilst the Disciplinary Rules are approved by the WRU they are administered independently on the game’s behalf by a panel of legally qualified and other suitably experienced Discipline Panel members.
The Welsh Rugby Union Disciplinary Panel comprises a three-man Panel appointed by the WRU Board, to deal with all aspects of the Union’s Disciplinary Regulations in relation to senior players playing in the Union’s domestic competitions below Regional rugby, including the SRC, WRU National Leagues, WRU Knock Out Competitions, as well as pre-season friendlies and Women’s rugby.
Hearings take place throughout the course of the season on a weekly basis at Principality Stadium and the results of all disciplinary cases are made available online.
Panel Members
Simon Thomas – Educated at Cardiff University, College of Law Guildford and University de la Sorbonne, Paris. Partner with Hutchinson Thomas solicitors since 1998. Simon been involved in rugby discipline since 2002. Has acted as citing commissioner at senior Six Nations level and ERC Match Commissioner. Acts as a Judicial Officer chairman for WRU, Guinness Pro14, EPCR and World Rugby including 2015 Rugby World Cup.
Roger Morris – Partner with Hutchinson Thomas solicitors. First appointed as a Judicial Officer for European season 2006-2007. Since then, he regularly acted as Judicial Officer in disciplinary cases in all major Tournaments under the jurisdiction of all the World’s major tournament organisers including: World Rugby, Six Nations, ERC/EPCR, Celtic League, WRU and RFU. Appointed as Judicial Officer to Rugby World Cup 2015, Women’s Rugby World Cup 2017 and Rugby World Cup 2019. Currently Chair of the United Rugby Championship (successor to Guinness Pro14) independent disciplinary committee.
Rhian Williams – Rhian is a solicitor and a partner with Hutchinson Thomas Solicitors. She was first appointed as a Judicial Officer in 2013. Since then, she has been appointed to hear rugby disciplinary cases arising from matches under the jurisdiction of World Rugby, 6Nations, EPCR, URC and the WRU. She was accredited as a Judicial Officer by World Rugby in 2020 and appointed as a Judicial Officer to the Commonwealth Games Rugby Sevens 2022.
Declan Goodwin – Declan has sat on rugby disciplinary panels since 2013. He is currently a Judicial Officer for the WRU, URC, EPRC, 6 Nations and World Rugby, and has sat on disciplinary panels for the RFU and Gloucestershire RFU. Born and raised in North Wales, Declan played for Rhyl & District RFC and Clwb Rygbi Dinbych, with a couple of years at Llandovery College also. He now enjoys watching his children play at Mumbles RFC. He is a solicitor in private practice, a Director of Wales Golf and Independent Appeals Panel Chairperson for the Football Association of Wales. Declan is a fluent Welsh speaker.
Richard Cole – Richard was born and went to school in Neath. He read law at the University of Warwick and then completed professional examinations to become a barrister. He has practised in Chambers in Cardiff since 2002. He acts on behalf of Government departments in litigation across England and Wales. He has chaired a large number of Welsh Rugby Union disciplinary and administrative hearings. He has sat on regional and European disciplinary panels and has been appointed by World Rugby to chair international disciplinary hearings.
Jonathan Walters – Jonathan is a practising barrister in chambers in Cardiff, specialising in employment law and professional discipline work. Jonathan is a very experienced barrister of 37 years. He is also a part-time Employment Judge sitting in the Employment Tribunals in the south west region of England, a position held for 20 years. He was, until retirement in 2019 a Level 3 WRU referee (refereeing to Division 1 standard) and holds a level 2 rugby coaching qualification.
Bryn Parker – Bryn is the current WRU Disciplinary Committee Chairman. Bryn played in the front row at many levels for well over 20 years for Clubs such as Usk RFC, Forgeside RFC, Blaenavon RFC, Talywain RFC, Garndiffaith RFC, Croesyceiliog RFC and Pontypool RFC. Bryn was also a Director of Rugby, a Coach and Team Manager for 18 years, as well as being a Club Secretary for Cwmbran RFC.
Les Peard – Les is a retired Referee. He started refereeing in 1971, progressing through the WRU grades and was appointed on the WRU International Panel. Les retired in 1993 after refereeing 9 internationals, including officiating in the 1991 World Cup and 2 WRU Cup Finals. Upon retirement, Les became a Referee Assessor and assessed 10 international until he retired in 2020. Les also coached many of the WRU top referees. In 2012, Les formed part of the WRU Age Grade Disciplinary Committee and joined the WRU Disciplinary Panel in 2017.
Jan Gedrych – Jan represented Richmond, Wales and Great Britain at women’s rugby playing in the inaugural international match in 1987. Jan is a retired criminal Barrister. Jan joined the WRU Judicial Panel in 2019 and has adjudicated on various complex matters. Jan also acts as a Panel Members for United Rugby Championship.
Kerry Hegarty – Kerry captained Merthyr First team in 1989/90 and after retiring from playing, had subsequently coached/managed the team from 1995 to 1998. Kerry also coached Gwent Police in season 1994/95 in which they won the British Police Cup Final. During his policing career, Kerry was heavily involved in creating policies and procedures especially around safeguarding children, young persons and vulnerable adults . Kerry is an experienced Panel Member, sitting on several Panels for all integrity matters, including safeguarding, Betting and Anti-Corruption and Discipline.
Chris Watts – Chris is a former police officer with the Gwent Force and is involved in coaching at club level. Chris has sat on many complex disciplinary matters and also acts as a professional judicial officer for URC and EPCR.
Russel Harris QC – Russell was educated at Heolddu Comprehensive Bargoed, St Johns College Cambridge, City University London and at Bar School. He was called to the Bar in 1986 by Gray’s Inn and appointed QC in 2001. He is an Attorney General’s Special Advocate dealing with terrorist matters or matters of national security and holds Developed Vetting (privy council level) security clearance. He has been a Trustee of Grays Inn and is a Fellow of the Royal Society of Arts. He played rugby for Bargoed, Cambridge University and London Welsh. He has coached age grade rugby at London Welsh for 13 years. He has sat on the board of London Welsh RFC. He is London Welsh Discipline Officer and has appeared at and adjudicated upon many RFU disciplinary matters in this role. At present he is secretary of the WRU Exiles programme in England.
William Tucker – William played rugby for Cardiff Harlequins RFC Youth team through to 1st xv until approximately 2010. Whilst at university in East Anglia, 2000 – 2003, William played for the University 2nd XV and appeared for Norwich RFC. He also Represented Wales at the Touch World Cup in Scotland in 2011. William is legally qualified and a partner at Nicol Denvir and Purnell Solicitors.
Mike Landers – Educated at Croesyceiliog Grammar School , Kesteven College of Education and Open University. Played Rugby at School, College and at minor Cub level. Retired Primary School Headteacher in Newport. Involvement in Primary School Rugby since 1972. President of Welsh Schools Rugby Union Junior Group. Past Chairman and Executive member. National Tournament Coordinator Welsh Schools . Chairman of Newport Schools Rugby Union. Selector and Coach of District and Regional Teams since 1972. Member of the W.R.U. Age Grade Disciplinary Panel since 2013. Chaired meetings where deemed necessary. Member of WRU Disciplinary Panel since 2017.
Kevin Lewis – During his playing career he played for Waunarlwydd, Felinfoel, Loughor, Llanelli, West Wales XV and Welsh Districts. He Captained, Coached and was Team Manager of Loughor RFC. He also Team managed the West Wales Representative XV.He joined the West Wales Management Committee in 2005. He has held posts as District F Vice Chairman and Chairman before he was elected to represent the District as a Council member. He is a Director and Hon Secretary of Loughor RFC since 2001 and is now a Life member of the club. He was part of the team that developed the new playing and a 4G training facilities at Loughor RFC.
Cledwyn Edwards – Cledwyn played and Captained Tonmawr RFC for three seasons. He also coached Tonmawr RFC Junior, Youth and Senior levels. He achieved the Welsh Rugby Union coaching award. Cledwyn held a number of administration roles within rugby, including Secretary of Aberavon District Youth Rugby Union, Executive Committee Member of the Welsh Youth Rugby Union, as well as acting as the Vice Chairman of the Welsh Youth Rugby Union. He also represented the Welsh Youth on the Welsh Rugby Union U21s Committee. Cledwyn is an experienced and longstanding member of the WRU Age Grade Disciplinary Committee.
Laurence Weekley – Played for Cardiff Harlequins RFC, Newport RFC and South Wales Police RFC, before becoming a referee for 5 years before ill health forced him to give up the whistle. Laurence is a Level 3 coach currently coaching at Cardiff Met RFC as well as being involved in Regional Age Grade U16/U18 at Cardiff Rugby as a coach, Team Manager and mentor. Laurence was a Detective at South Wales Police before retiring and runs his own business conducting corporate fraud and surveillance investigations in the waste, aggregates and insurance industries as well as acting as an Independent Investigator for NHS England. Over the last 15 years Laurence has conducted over 400 Independent Investigations on behalf of Welsh Government, NHS England and Global Businesses. Laurence has sat on the WRU Disciplinary Panel since 2021.
