The International Rugby Board (IRB) governs rugby union in all its forms while also acting as the game's law-maker.

It was founded in 1886 as the International Rugby Football Board (IRFB) by the unions of Ireland, Scotland and Wales. England initially refused to take part but joined in 1890.

The IRB has six regional associations as members, covering Africa, Asia, North America and West Indies, Europe, Oceania and South America. National unions oversee the sport within individual countries.

Rugby union is played by men, women, boys and girls in more than 100 countries on five continents. The IRB, with its headquarters in Dublin, has 97 national unions as full members, with a further 19 associate members.

The current chairman is Bernard Lapasset of France. The IRB Council meets twice a year. Eight unions - Australia, England, France, Ireland, New Zealand, Scotland, South Africa and Wales - have two representatives each on the council, with Argentina, Canada, Italy, Japan and the regional associations all having one.

The IRB's main financial resource is Rugby World Cup (RWC). The revenues from RWC provide funds which are distributed to member unions to help them develop the game worldwide.

IRB lists its main responsibilities as:

-governance of the laws and regulations and their enforcement
-tournament owners and managers
-global game development through member unions funding via grants and strategic investment programmes/ delivery of education & development programmes
-game promotion