Earl joins World Rugby from UEFA and brings with him more than 15 years of experience in the implementation and management of intelligent and major event testing programmes and the delivery of educational programmes, critical in the fight against doping. He previously worked with both the Football Association and the UK National Anti-Doping Organisation.

With rugby continuing to experience record global participation growth, Earl will head-up the federation's experienced and expanded anti-doping unit, responsible for the management of the compliance, intelligent testing, athlete biological passport and Keep Rugby Clean programmes which operate across the sport to protect clean athletes.

World Rugby Chairman Bernard Lapasset said: "Doping is a major threat to the integrity of sport and World Rugby is a committed and active federation in the fight to protect clean sport. This appointment in a critical area, expands our capability, ensuring the highest possible standards of testing and education as our sport continues to reach and grow in new markets worldwide.

"In 2015 we announced a 28 per cent increase in our annual education and testing funding. With participation levels increasing at unprecedented rates, this record anti-doping investment represents a proactive and pragmatic approach to protect our sport and ensure a level playing field. It focuses on the intelligence-based testing supported by our biological passport programme and increased face-to-face and online education across multiple languages.”

World Rugby is committed to ensuring the highest standards of education in order that players at all levels of the sport make the right choices with regards to nutrition and participation. Education remains a critical deterrent and it is mandatory for players, coaches and medical practitioners participating in World Rugby events. World Rugby also works with its national member unions to implement Keep Rugby Clean educational programmes that target the lower levels of the game and the school environment.