World Rugby has joined the growing sporting condemnation of Russia's invasion of Ukraine, banning them and Belarus from international play.
Following sanctions from world football body FIFA and the International Olympic Committee, the oval-ball code has revoked Russia's membership, and forbidden Russian and Belarusian teams from playing outside their own countries.
Belarus has been punished for allowing Russian troops to use its border to enter Ukraine last week.
"The global rugby family is united in standing in solidarity with everyone affected by these deeply disturbing events and joins the global community in calling for the restoration of peace," says World Rugby.
"The decision has been taken with the interests of rugby's values of solidarity, integrity and respect at heart. World Rugby also remains in contact with colleagues at the Ukraine Rugby Federation and has pledged its full support to the rugby community in the country."
The decision follows a move by FIFA and European counterpart UEFA to ban Russia from international play, effectively eliminating them from World Cup and Euro women's tournaments later this year. The International Olympic Committee has urged member sport to ban Russia and Belarus from international competition.
Russia is very much a development programme in rugby, where the men are ranked 25th in the world - between Namibia and Netherlands - after attending two of the last three World Cup events.
The Bears progressed to the 2019 tournament, after Spain, Belgium and Romania were punished for fielding ineligible players in European qualifying. In Japan, they went winless in the 'pool of death' containing the host nation, Ireland, Scotland and Samoa.
Their absence is probably more likely to be felt in women's rugby, where they are ranked 14th - between South Africa and Samoa - and they currently sit third on the world sevens circuit standings. Presumably, they will now not contest the final two stops of that series at Langford, Canada, and Toulouse, France.
