.rugby

Overview

.rugby is a proposed generic top-level domain (gTLD) intended for the global rugby community. The string was pursued to provide a dedicated namespace for rugby stakeholders, promote the sport and its values, and protect rugby-related trademarks and content.

History

• Proposed as part of ICANN's New gTLD Program as a sport-related gTLD for rugby.
• The International Rugby Board (IRB) backed an application submitted by IRB Strategic Developments Limited (in partnership with Top Level Domain Holdings Ltd. and ROAR Domains). Minds + Machines was selected to provide back-end registry services for the IRB-backed application.
• Other applicants included Famous Four Media (dot Rugby Limited) and Donuts (Atomic Cross, LLC). The IRB filed Community Objections against these competing applications.
• The competing applications by Donuts and Famous Four Media received GAC Early Warnings (issued by the United Kingdom).
• An ICC panel decision on the merged Community Objection cases ruled in favor of the IRB, removing Donuts and Famous Four Media from the contention set.
• The IRB and other applicants filed Public Interest Commitments (PICs) as part of their applications.

Usage and Audience

• Target audience: global rugby stakeholders, including national unions, clubs, players, fans, events organizers, and other rugby-related organizations.
• Intended uses: promoting the sport of rugby, representing rugby institutions and events online, and protecting the integrity and trademarks of the rugby community.

Registration Rules

• The IRB positioned its application to ensure the TLD would be restricted and used in the best interests of the rugby community, including protection of trademarks.
• The IRB-backed applicant filed a Public Interest Commitment (PIC) as part of its application. Competing applicants also filed PICs.
• The application was not submitted as a Community Priority Application under ICANN rules, but the IRB and the UK GAC characterized it as effectively serving a community.

SEO and Brand Impact

• Backing by the sport's global governing body (the IRB) positions .rugby as a branded, trust-oriented namespace for rugby organizations and stakeholders.
• GAC Early Warnings and the IRB's community objections highlighted the string's association with the official rugby community, which can reinforce perceived legitimacy and brand protection for sites that adopt the TLD.
• The contested application process and public disputes between applicants brought attention to stewardship and trust issues, factors that can influence brand perception.

Notable Cases or Examples

• GAC Early Warnings: The United Kingdom issued Early Warnings against the Famous Four Media and Donuts applications, recommending that the IRB-backed application be given priority.
• Community Objection: The IRB filed Community Objections against the competing applicants; an ICC panel (panelist Mark Kantor) decided in favor of the IRB, removing Donuts and Famous Four Media from contention.
• Public correspondence: Donuts publicly responded to the UK GAC Early Warning and engaged in public correspondence regarding stewardship and objections. ROAR Domains and partners were reported to have actively pursued objections to competing bids.

% IANA WHOIS server
% for more information on IANA, visit http://www.iana.org
% This query returned 1 object

domain:       RUGBY

organisation: World Rugby Strategic Developments Limited
address:      World Rugby House
address:      8-10 Pembroke Street
address:      Dublin Dublin 2
address:      Ireland

contact:      administrative
name:         Ryan Nelsen
organisation: World Rugby Strategic Developments Limited
address:      World Rugby House
address:      8-10 Pembroke Street
address:      Dublin Dublin 2
address:      Ireland
phone:        +1.9292946005
e-mail:       ryan@roar.basketball

contact:      technical
name:         IANA Contact
organisation: GoDaddy Registry
address:      100 S. Mill Ave, Suite 1600
address:      Tempe AZ 85281
address:      United States of America (the)
phone:        +1 480 505 8800
fax-no:       +1 480 624 2546
e-mail:       iana@registry.godaddy

nserver:      A.NIC.RUGBY 2001:dcd:1:0:0:0:0:10 37.209.192.10
nserver:      B.NIC.RUGBY 2001:dcd:2:0:0:0:0:10 37.209.194.10
nserver:      C.NIC.RUGBY 2001:dcd:3:0:0:0:0:10 37.209.196.10
nserver:      X.NIC.RUGBY 156.154.172.82 2610:a1:1074:0:0:0:1:82
nserver:      Y.NIC.RUGBY 156.154.173.82 2610:a1:1075:0:0:0:1:82
nserver:      Z.NIC.RUGBY 156.154.174.82 2610:a1:1076:0:0:0:1:82
ds-rdata:     30334 8 2 ab547a2f87369f8141bc75216586a4ba1e1d9ed416660aa5d46a8c243061e53d

whois:        whois.nic.rugby

status:       ACTIVE
remarks:      Registration information: https://nic.rugby/

created:      2017-03-23
changed:      2025-01-21
source:       IANA