For the purposes of the Social Media and Communications Code of Conduct, Club officials shall include any member of a Club.

Responsibility of the Club

5.1 The Club will:

(a) decide how the content of their Club’s website and/or social network page (“Club’s Media Output”) will be managed within their Club.

(b) delete/manage any inappropriate comments posted by their coaches, team managers, players, club officials and/or spectators (or otherwise) on their Club’s Media Output; and

(c) ensure the person managing the Club’s Media Output is fully aware of the guidelines in place, as well as the WRU Codes of Conduct.

Expectations and Standards Required

5.2 A Player, coach, team manager or Club official shall promote their Club online in a positive way.

5.3 A Player, coach, team manager, Club official, match official and referee adviser shall not promote poor sportsmanship online.

5.4 A Player, coach, team manager, Club official, match official and referee adviser shall not incite violence on or off the field through the use of social media.

5.5 A Player, coach, team manager, Club official, match official and referee adviser shall not act in a way that is prejudicial to the interests of the WRU and/or the Game, including through the use of social media or social networking websites or otherwise.

5.6 A Player, coach, team manager, Club official, match official and referee adviser shall not publish or cause to be published in any medium (including via any social media or social networking websites or otherwise) or make any public criticism of any Club or any match official, coach, team manager, Club official, Player and/or employee or worker of his or another Club or any other Person which might be defamatory, improper, threatening, abusive, indecent, insulting, offensive or that brings or has the potential to bring the Game into disrepute.

5.7 A Player, coach, team manager, Club official, match official and referee adviser shall not publish or cause to be published in any medium (including via any social media or social networking websites or otherwise) criticism of the manner in which the Disciplinary Panel, WRU Professional Disciplinary Panel or the Appeal Panel (as applicable) handled or resolved any dispute or disciplinary matter.

5.8 Pursuant to Regulation 5.19, and subject to Regulations 5.19 to 5.23, of the Disciplinary Regulations, all oral or written representations, submissions, evidence and documents created in the course of any proceedings (to include decisions) are confidential (together “Confidential Proceedings Materials”). A Player, coach, team manager, Club official, match official and referee adviser shall not publish or cause to be published in any medium (including via any social media or social networking websites), any Confidential Proceedings Materials.

5.9 For the avoidance of doubt, a reference herein to social media and/or social networking websites includes (but is not limited to) a reference to Facebook, Instagram WhatsApp, Snapchat, Twitter, emails, and text messages.