Stevens & Bolton’s Commercial & Tech team recently teamed up with the Rugby Football Union (RFU) to deliver a national webinar for rugby clubs on one of the sport’s more complex off-pitch challenges: data subject access requests (DSARs). The session, led by Charlie Maurice (Partner and Co-head of Sports) and Guy Cartwright (Managing Associate), was titled “Scrum Down on Subject Access: Tackling Data Subject Access Requests Like a Pro.”

A DSAR is a data subject right under UK data protection laws, allowing individuals to request copies of the information held about them. For rugby clubs, these requests can be particularly difficult to navigate due to the wide range of personal data they manage, the involvement of children and young people, and the sensitive nature of processes such as disciplinary matters.

The webinar attracted more than 100 delegates from rugby clubs across the country and offered practical guidance on managing DSARs effectively. The session concluded with an interactive Q&A, with clubs raising specific challenges (for answers to this and other tricky questions, Charlie and Guy are happy to help!).

 Nick Schippers, Senior Legal Counsel at the RFU, praised the event, commenting:

“On behalf of our Legal & Governance team, I wanted to say a huge thank you to you both for taking the time to host the webinar. The content was very clear and accessible and we have already received positive feedback from clubs on this.”

Reflecting on the collaboration, Charlie Maurice said:

“It was great to work with Nick and the team on this. DSARs can be a tricky area, involving consideration of exemptions and balancing privacy rights. As a member of a number of sports clubs myself, I understand first-hand some of the challenges rugby clubs may face in dealing with DSARs.”

Stevens & Bolton looks forward to continuing its work with the RFU on future initiatives supporting rugby clubs with practical guidance.