▁( and ▁associated ▁games ▁such ▁as ▁se vens ) ▁is ▁World ▁Rugby ▁( WR ). ▁The ▁W R ▁headquarters ▁are ▁in ▁Dublin , ▁Ireland . ▁W R , ▁founded ▁in ▁ 1 8 8 6 , ▁gover ns ▁the ▁sport ▁world wide ▁and ▁publish es ▁the ▁game ' s ▁laws ▁and ▁rank ings . ▁As ▁of ▁February ▁ 2 0 1 4 , ▁W R ▁( then ▁known ▁as ▁the ▁IR B , ▁for ▁International ▁Rugby ▁Board ) ▁recorded ▁ 1 1 9 ▁un ions ▁in ▁its ▁membership , ▁ 1 0 1 ▁full ▁members ▁and ▁ 1 8 ▁associate ▁member ▁countries . ▁According ▁to ▁W R , ▁rugby ▁union ▁is ▁played ▁by ▁men ▁and ▁women ▁in ▁over ▁ 1 0 0 ▁countries . ▁W R ▁controls ▁the ▁Rugby ▁World ▁Cup , ▁the ▁Women ' s ▁Rugby ▁World ▁Cup , ▁Rugby ▁World ▁Cup ▁Se vens , ▁H SB C ▁Se vens ▁Series , ▁H SB C ▁Women ' s ▁Se vens ▁Series , ▁World ▁Under ▁ 2 0 ▁Championship , ▁World ▁Under ▁ 2 0 ▁Tro phy , ▁Nations ▁Cup ▁and ▁the ▁Pacific ▁Nations ▁Cup . ▁W R ▁holds ▁votes ▁to ▁decide ▁where ▁each ▁of ▁these ▁events ▁are ▁to ▁be ▁held , ▁except ▁in ▁the ▁case ▁of ▁the ▁Se vens ▁World ▁Series ▁for ▁men ▁and ▁women , ▁for ▁which ▁W R ▁contract s ▁with ▁several ▁national ▁un ions ▁to ▁hold ▁individual ▁events . ▁ ▁Six ▁regional ▁associations , ▁which ▁are ▁members ▁of ▁W R , ▁form ▁the ▁next ▁level ▁of ▁administration ; ▁these