diff --git a/web/controllers/rules/list_rules.ex b/web/controllers/rules/list_rules.ex
index c948896..0e68e80 100644
--- a/web/controllers/rules/list_rules.ex
+++ b/web/controllers/rules/list_rules.ex
@@ -21,7 +21,8 @@ defmodule Dwylbot.Rules.List do
           PR.NoDescription,
           PR.MergeConflict,
           PR.NoAssignee,
-          PR.AwaitingReview
+          PR.AwaitingReview,
+          PR.NoIssueReference
         ]
       "status" ->
         [
diff --git a/web/controllers/rules/pr/no_issue_reference.ex b/web/controllers/rules/pr/no_issue_reference.ex
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..16ce688
--- /dev/null
+++ b/web/controllers/rules/pr/no_issue_reference.ex
@@ -0,0 +1,87 @@
+defmodule Dwylbot.Rules.PR.NoIssueReference do
+  @moduledoc """
+  reassign user if no issue has been referenced
+  """
+  alias Dwylbot.Rules.Helpers
+  @github_api Application.get_env(:dwylbot, :github_api)
+  @rule_name "pr_no_issue_reference"
+
+  def apply?(payload) do
+    payload["action"] in ~w(review_requested assigned)
+  end
+
+  def check(payload, _get_data?, token) do
+    # "https://api.github.com/repos/naazy/dwylbot-test/issues/29"
+    # -> https://github.com/naazy/dwylbot-test/issues/41
+    issue_base_url =
+      payload["pull_request"]["issue_url"]
+        |> String.replace("//api.", "//")
+        |> String.split("/")
+        |> Enum.filter(fn(a)-> a != "repos" end)
+        |> Enum.drop(-1) #removes the issue number 29
+        |> Enum.join("/")
+
+    assignees = get_assignees_login(payload["pull_request"]["assignees"])
+
+    authorIsAssigned = Enum.member?(assignees, payload["pull_request"]["base"]["user"]["login"])
+
+    pr_contains_shorthand_issue_reference? = Regex.match?(~r/(#[0-9]+)\b/, payload["pull_request"]["body"])
+
+    compiled_issue_url_regex = case Regex.compile("(#{issue_base_url}\/[0-9]+)") do
+      {:ok, string} -> string
+      {:error, _reason} -> "error compiling regex"
+    end
+
+    pr_contains_url_issue_reference? = Regex.match?(compiled_issue_url_regex, payload["pull_request"]["body"])
+
+    if (!(pr_contains_shorthand_issue_reference? || pr_contains_url_issue_reference?) && !authorIsAssigned) do
+      %{
+        error_type: @rule_name,
+        actions: [
+          %{
+            remove_assignees: get_assignees_login(payload["pull_request"]["assignees"]),
+            url: "#{payload["pull_request"]["issue_url"]}/assignees"
+          },
+          %{
+            add_labels: ["in-progress"],
+            url: "#{payload["pull_request"]["issue_url"]}/labels"
+          },
+          %{
+            remove_label: "awaiting-review",
+            url: "#{payload["pull_request"]["issue_url"]}/labels"
+          },
+          %{
+            comment: error_message(payload["sender"]["login"]),
+            url: payload["pull_request"]["comments_url"]
+          },
+          %{
+            add_assignees: [ payload["sender"]["login"] ],
+            url: "#{payload["pull_request"]["issue_url"]}/assignees"
+          }
+        ],
+        wait: Helpers.wait(Mix.env, 30_000, 1000, 1),
+        verify: true
+      }
+    else
+      nil
+    end
+  end
+
+  defp get_assignees_login(assignees) do
+    assignees
+    |> Enum.map(fn(a) -> a["login"] end)
+  end
+
+  defp error_message(login) do
+    """
+    @#{login}, All pull requests must reference an issue but we cannot seem to find :mag: an issue URL in your pull request comment.
+
+    Please edit :pencil2: your pull request comment and paste in a relevant issue URL.
+
+    See our [contributing](https://github.com/dwyl/contributing) guide for more information :heart:
+
+    Thanks for your contribution :sparkles:
+    """
+  end
+
+end