.rugby

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Status:	proposed
Type:	gTLD
Category:	Sport

.rugby is new generic top level domain name (gTLD) proposal for the rugby sports community to ICANN's New gTLD Program.

The International Rugby Board (IRB), rugby's governing federation made up of 118 IRB member countries representing more than 5.5 million registered players across all continents, released a press release stating that the application submitted by IRB Strategic Developments Limited is the only rugby application supported by the international rugby community. The application was founded on a mandate by the Board, and the Board seeks to ensure that the TLD is restricted, used in the best interests of the game of rugby and the rugby community.

Current Applicants

1. Top Level Domains Holding Ltd. & The International Rugby Board (IRB), in partnership with Roar Domains LLC. are applying for the TLD. Minds + Machines has been selected by the organization to provide the back-end registry services. IRB's objectives in applying for the TLD are to serve the interest of the global rugby stakeholders, to promote the sport and its values and to protect its trademarks.
2. Famous Four Media (dot Rugby Limited), one of 61 applications filed by the company.
3. Donuts (Atomic Cross, LLC), one of 307 applications filed by the company.

GAC Early Warning

The applications from Famous Four Media and Donuts were both issued a GAC Early Warning by the United Kingdom. The warning system is noted as a strong recommendation on behalf of national governments to the ICANN Board that a given TLD application should be denied as it stands. Applicants are encouraged to work with objecting GAC members.

The warnings state that the application submitted in conjunction with the International Rugby Board, which is the largest, officially recognized governing body for the sport, should by given priority about the other two applications. It notes that while the application was not submitted as a Community Priority Application, it is a Community TLD, if not technically so under ICANN's rules. It recommends that the other two applicants withdraw their applications.