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The players wouldn't be sanctioned, insured and registered.And my question is, when you say "can't" and "have to", what is the or else? In your example, what could the WRU have done if the RFU had said OK and the teams went and played anyway? Complain to the IRB perhaps, but would the IRB really have delisted the Premiership or RFU for a couple of otherwise unloved clubs...
Yes it did actually. Certain clubs within the LNR originally sided with the RRW and PRL when they wanted to created a new and 'exciting' European competition based upon a deal that PRL signed on behalf of everyone else behind their back with BT. The FFR sided with the union backed ERC (the existing Heineken Cup body) the FFR President Camou put the foot down stating to the French clubs that sided with PRL we will take you to court as according to French law only the FFR can govern and sanction Rugby within France. The clubs quickly went straight over to the FFR and took their side.they pulled up well short of that level of reaction even when the HC blew up (and who was it largely got their way when they finally negotiated the settlement for that?). And in our case too, what would the IRB do if the Asian countries recognised it and played anyway - it is not like they have anything much to lose.