diff --git a/gitlab/ci_template.yml b/gitlab/ci_template.yml
index 6bf6a80870..ce32469aee 100644
--- a/gitlab/ci_template.yml
+++ b/gitlab/ci_template.yml
@@ -38,19 +38,9 @@ variables:
 #
 # Global CI policy
 #
-# This can be used to configure global behaviour our our jobs. It also
-# supports some variable to affect the job when:
-#
-#   EXCEPT_PROJECT_REGEX: Will mark to never if that regex match
-#   ONLY_PROJECT_REGEX: Will mark to never if that regex do not match
+# This can be used to configure global behaviour our our jobs.
 #
 .global_ci_policy:
-  rules:
-    - if: '$EXCEPT_PROJECT_REGEX && $CI_PROJECT_NAME =~ $EXCEPT_PROJECT_REGEX'
-      when: 'never'
-    - if: '$ONLY_PROJECT_REGEX && $CI_PROJECT_NAME !~ $ONLY_PROJECT_REGEX'
-      when: 'never'
-    - when: 'on_success'
   retry:
     max: 2
     when:
@@ -88,7 +78,8 @@ gst indent:
   stage: 'preparation'
   variables:
     GIT_STRATEGY: 'fetch'
-    EXCEPT_PROJECT_REGEX: '/^(gstreamer-sharp|gst-integration-testsuites|cerbero|gst-docs)$/'
+  rules:
+    - if: '$CI_PROJECT_NAME !~ /^(gstreamer-sharp|gst-integration-testsuites|cerbero|gst-docs)$/'
   script:
     # man indent. grep RETURN VALUE, grab a beer on my behalf...
     - indent --version || true
@@ -123,7 +114,8 @@ gst indent:
     CARGO_HOME: "/cache/gstreamer/cargo"
 
     MESON_ARGS: "${DEFAULT_MESON_ARGS} ${MESON_BUILDTYPE_ARGS} --werror"
-    EXCEPT_PROJECT_REGEX: '/^(cerbero)$/'
+  rules:
+    - if: '$CI_PROJECT_NAME != "cerbero"'
 
   script:
     - ccache --show-stats
@@ -151,7 +143,8 @@ build fedora x86_64:
   image: $FEDORA_IMAGE
   variables:
     MESON_ARGS: "${DEFAULT_MESON_ARGS} -Dsharp=enabled -Domx=enabled -Dgst-omx:target=generic -Ddoc=enabled -Drs=disabled ${MESON_BUILDTYPE_ARGS} --werror"
-    EXCEPT_PROJECT_REGEX: '/^(cerbero|gst-omx|gst-plugins-rs)$/'
+  rules:
+    - if: '$CI_PROJECT_NAME !~ /^(cerbero|gst-omx|gst-plugins-rs)$/'
   artifacts:
     expire_in: '5 days'
     when: always
@@ -165,26 +158,30 @@ build nodebug fedora x86_64:
   image: $FEDORA_IMAGE
   variables:
     MESON_ARGS: "${DEFAULT_MESON_ARGS} -Dsharp=enabled -Dgstreamer:gst_debug=false -Domx=enabled -Dgst-omx:target=generic -Drs=disabled ${MESON_BUILDTYPE_ARGS} --werror"
-    EXCEPT_PROJECT_REGEX: '/^(cerbero|gst-docs|gst-integration-testsuites|gst-omx|gst-plugins-rs)$/'
+  rules:
+    - if: '$CI_PROJECT_NAME !~ /^(cerbero|gst-docs|gst-integration-testsuites|gst-omx|gst-plugins-rs)$/'
 
 build static fedora x86_64:
   extends: 'build fedora x86_64'
   variables:
     MESON_BUILDTYPE_ARGS: "--default-library=static -Dintrospection=disabled -Ddoc=disabled"
-    EXCEPT_PROJECT_REGEX: '/^(cerbero|gst-docs|gst-integration-testsuites|gst-omx|gst-plugins-rs)$/'
+  rules:
+    - if: '$CI_PROJECT_NAME !~ /^(cerbero|gst-docs|gst-integration-testsuites|gst-omx|gst-plugins-rs)$/'
 
 build static nodebug fedora x86_64:
   extends: 'build nodebug fedora x86_64'
   variables:
     MESON_BUILDTYPE_ARGS: "--default-library=static -Dintrospection=disabled -Ddoc=disabled"
-    EXCEPT_PROJECT_REGEX: '/^(cerbero|gst-docs|gst-integration-testsuites|gst-omx|gst-plugins-rs)$/'
+  rules:
+    - if: '$CI_PROJECT_NAME !~ /^(cerbero|gst-docs|gst-integration-testsuites|gst-omx|gst-plugins-rs)$/'
 
 build clang fedora x86_64:
   extends: 'build fedora x86_64'
   variables:
     CC: 'ccache clang'
     CXX: 'ccache clang++'
-    EXCEPT_PROJECT_REGEX: '/^(cerbero|gst-docs|gst-integration-testsuites|gst-omx|gst-plugins-rs)$/'
+  rules:
+    - if: '$CI_PROJECT_NAME !~ /^(cerbero|gst-docs|gst-integration-testsuites|gst-omx|gst-plugins-rs)$/'
 
 .test:
   stage: 'test'
@@ -197,7 +194,8 @@ build clang fedora x86_64:
     GST_VALIDATE_LAUNCHER_FORCE_COLORS: "true"
     TIMEOUT_FACTOR: "2"
     CARGO_HOME: "/cache/gstreamer/cargo"
-    EXCEPT_PROJECT_REGEX: '/^(cerbero|gst-examples|gst-docs)$/'
+  rules:
+    - if: '$CI_PROJECT_NAME !~ /^(cerbero|gst-examples|gst-docs)$/'
   script:
     - cd gst-build/
     - echo "-> Running ${TEST_SUITE}"
@@ -235,7 +233,8 @@ check fedora:
   extends: '.test fedora x86_64'
   variables:
     TEST_SUITE: "check.gst*"
-    EXCEPT_PROJECT_REGEX: '/^(cerbero|gst-docs|gst-examples|gst-integration-testsuites|gst-omx|gst-plugins-rs)$/'
+  rules:
+    - if: '$CI_PROJECT_NAME !~ /^(cerbero|gst-docs|gst-examples|gst-integration-testsuites|gst-omx|gst-plugins-rs)$/'
 
 integration testsuites fedora:
   extends: '.test fedora x86_64'
@@ -243,7 +242,8 @@ integration testsuites fedora:
   variables:
     EXTRA_VALIDATE_ARGS: "--timeout-factor=2 --retry-on-failures --check-bugs --parts=${CI_NODE_TOTAL} --part-index=${CI_NODE_INDEX}"
     TEST_SUITE: "validate ges"
-    EXCEPT_PROJECT_REGEX: '/^(cerbero|gst-docs|gst-omx|gst-plugins-rs)$/'
+  rules:
+    - if: '$CI_PROJECT_NAME !~ /^(cerbero|gst-docs|gst-omx|gst-plugins-rs)$/'
 
 gstreamer-full:
   extends: 'build static fedora x86_64'
@@ -253,8 +253,9 @@ gstreamer-full:
       --default-library=static
       -Dauto_features=disabled
       -Dgst-plugins-good:alpha=enabled
-    EXCEPT_PROJECT_REGEX: ''
-    ONLY_PROJECT_REGEX: '/^(gst-build|gst-ci)$/'
+  rules:
+    - if: '$CI_PROJECT_NAME =~ /^(gst-build|gst-ci)$/'
+
   after_script:
   - cd gst-build/
   - ninja -C build install
@@ -280,37 +281,43 @@ valgrind core:
   extends: '.valgrind fedora x86_64'
   variables:
     TEST_SUITE: "check.gstreamer\\..*"
-    ONLY_PROJECT_REGEX: '/^(gstreamer|gst-ci)$/'
+  rules:
+    - if: '$CI_PROJECT_NAME =~ /^(gstreamer|gst-ci)$/'
 
 valgrind base:
   extends: '.valgrind fedora x86_64'
   variables:
     TEST_SUITE: "check.gst-plugins-base\\..*"
-    ONLY_PROJECT_REGEX: '/^(gstreamer|gst-plugins-base|gst-ci)$/'
+  rules:
+    - if: '$CI_PROJECT_NAME =~ /^(gstreamer|gst-plugins-base|gst-ci)$/'
 
 valgrind good:
   extends: '.valgrind fedora x86_64'
   variables:
     TEST_SUITE: "check.gst-plugins-good\\..*"
-    ONLY_PROJECT_REGEX: '/^(gstreamer|gst-plugins-base|gst-plugins-good|gst-ci)$/'
+  rules:
+    - if: '$CI_PROJECT_NAME =~ /^(gstreamer|gst-plugins-base|gst-plugins-good|gst-ci)$/'
 
 valgrind ugly:
   extends: '.valgrind fedora x86_64'
   variables:
     TEST_SUITE: "check.gst-plugins-ugly\\..*"
-    ONLY_PROJECT_REGEX: '/^(gstreamer|gst-plugins-base|gst-plugins-ugly|gst-ci)$/'
+  rules:
+    - if: '$CI_PROJECT_NAME =~ /^(gstreamer|gst-plugins-base|gst-plugins-ugly|gst-ci)$/'
 
 valgrind bad:
   extends: '.valgrind fedora x86_64'
   variables:
     TEST_SUITE: "check.gst-plugins-bad\\..*"
-    ONLY_PROJECT_REGEX: '/^(gstreamer|gst-plugins-base|gst-plugins-good|gst-plugins-bad|gst-ci)$/'
+  rules:
+    - if: '$CI_PROJECT_NAME =~ /^(gstreamer|gst-plugins-base|gst-plugins-good|gst-plugins-bad|gst-ci)$/'
 
 valgrind ges:
   extends: '.valgrind fedora x86_64'
   variables:
     TEST_SUITE: "check.gst-editing-services\\..*"
-    ONLY_PROJECT_REGEX: '/^(gstreamer|gst-plugins-base|gst-plugins-good|gst-editing-services|gst-ci|gst-devtools)$/'
+  rules:
+    - if: '$CI_PROJECT_NAME =~ /^(gstreamer|gst-plugins-base|gst-plugins-good|gst-editing-services|gst-ci|gst-devtools)$/'
 
 # Template for Cerbero GStreamer Build
 #
@@ -324,6 +331,8 @@ valgrind ges:
   image: $CERBERO_IMAGE
   extends:
     - '.global_ci_policy'
+  rules:
+    - if: '$CI_PROJECT_NAME == "cerbero"'
   needs:
     - "manifest"
   # Ensure that the runners it will be executed on
@@ -414,7 +423,8 @@ valgrind ges:
       -Dlibav=disabled
       -Dvaapi=disabled
       -Ddevtools=disabled
-    EXCEPT_PROJECT_REGEX: '/^(cerbero|gst-docs|gst-integration-testsuites|gst-omx|gst-plugins-rs|gstreamer-vaapi)$/'
+  rules:
+    - if: '$CI_PROJECT_NAME !~ /^(cerbero|gst-docs|gst-integration-testsuites|gst-omx|gst-plugins-rs|gstreamer-vaapi)$/'
   script:
     # Sometimes there's seems to be an existing gst-build clone that comes either from the ether or
     # from a previous job due to some gitlab bug or implicit behavior?
@@ -509,8 +519,8 @@ build msys2 :
 # with the associated build-tools.
 .cerbero deps:
   extends: .cerbero
-  variables:
-    ONLY_PROJECT_REGEX: '/^cerbero$/'
+  rules:
+    - if: '$CI_PROJECT_NAME == "cerbero"'
   stage: "pre-build"
   script:
     - $CERBERO $CERBERO_ARGS show-config
@@ -554,15 +564,13 @@ cerbero deps fedora x86_64:
 
 cerbero fedora x86_64:
   extends: '.cerbero fedora x86_64'
-  variables:
-    ONLY_PROJECT_REGEX: '/^cerbero$/'
   needs:
     - "cerbero deps fedora x86_64"
 
 build cerbero fedora x86_64:
   extends: '.cerbero fedora x86_64'
-  variables:
-    EXCEPT_PROJECT_REGEX: '/^(cerbero|gst-build|gst-omx|gstreamer-vaapi|gst-docs|gst-integration-testsuites|gst-plugins-rs)$/'
+  rules:
+    - if: '$CI_PROJECT_NAME !~ /^(cerbero|gst-build|gst-omx|gstreamer-vaapi|gst-docs|gst-integration-testsuites|gst-plugins-rs)$/'
 
 #
 # Cerbero Android Universal build
@@ -588,15 +596,13 @@ cerbero deps cross-android universal:
 
 cerbero cross-android universal:
   extends: '.cerbero cross-android universal'
-  variables:
-    ONLY_PROJECT_REGEX: '/^cerbero$/'
   needs:
     - "cerbero deps cross-android universal"
 
 build cerbero cross-android universal:
   extends: '.cerbero cross-android universal'
-  variables:
-    EXCEPT_PROJECT_REGEX: '/^(cerbero|gst-build|gst-omx|gstreamer-vaapi|gst-integration-testsuites|gst-plugins-rs)$/'
+  rules:
+    - if: '$CI_PROJECT_NAME !~ /^(cerbero|gst-build|gst-omx|gstreamer-vaapi|gst-integration-testsuites|gst-plugins-rs)$/'
 
 #
 # Cerbero Cross Windows builds
@@ -616,15 +622,13 @@ cerbero deps cross-windows x86:
 
 cerbero cross win32:
   extends: '.cerbero cross win32'
-  variables:
-    ONLY_PROJECT_REGEX: '/^cerbero$/'
   needs:
     - "cerbero deps cross-windows x86"
 
 build cerbero cross win32:
   extends: '.cerbero cross win32'
-  variables:
-    EXCEPT_PROJECT_REGEX: '/^(cerbero|gst-build|gst-omx|gstreamer-vaapi|gst-docs|gst-integration-testsuites|gst-plugins-rs)$/'
+  rules:
+    - if: '$CI_PROJECT_NAME !~ /^(cerbero|gst-build|gst-omx|gstreamer-vaapi|gst-docs|gst-integration-testsuites|gst-plugins-rs)$/'
 
 cerbero deps cross-windows x86_64:
   extends: '.cerbero deps'
@@ -641,15 +645,13 @@ cerbero deps cross-windows x86_64:
 
 cerbero cross win64:
   extends: '.cerbero cross win64'
-  variables:
-    ONLY_PROJECT_REGEX: '/^cerbero$/'
   needs:
     - "cerbero deps cross-windows x86_64"
 
 build cerbero cross win64:
   extends: '.cerbero cross win64'
-  variables:
-    EXCEPT_PROJECT_REGEX: '/^(cerbero|gst-build|gst-omx|gstreamer-vaapi|gst-docs|gst-integration-testsuites|gst-plugins-rs)$/'
+  rules:
+    - if: '$CI_PROJECT_NAME !~ /^(cerbero|gst-build|gst-omx|gstreamer-vaapi|gst-docs|gst-integration-testsuites|gst-plugins-rs)$/'
 
 #
 # Build an Android App using the android binaries
@@ -697,15 +699,15 @@ build cerbero cross win64:
 
 cross-android universal examples:
   extends: ".cross-android universal examples"
-  variables:
-    EXCEPT_PROJECT_REGEX: '/^(cerbero|gst-build|gst-omx|gstreamer-vaapi|gst-integration-testsuites|gst-plugins-rs)$/'
+  rules:
+    - if: '$CI_PROJECT_NAME !~ /^(cerbero|gst-build|gst-omx|gstreamer-vaapi|gst-integration-testsuites|gst-plugins-rs)$/'
   needs:
     - "build cerbero cross-android universal"
 
 cerbero cross-android universal examples:
   extends: ".cross-android universal examples"
-  variables:
-    ONLY_PROJECT_REGEX: '/^cerbero$/'
+  rules:
+    - if: '$CI_PROJECT_NAME == "cerbero"'
   needs:
     - "cerbero cross-android universal"
 
@@ -746,15 +748,13 @@ cerbero deps macos x86_64:
 
 cerbero macos x86_64:
   extends: '.cerbero macos x86_64'
-  variables:
-    ONLY_PROJECT_REGEX: '/^cerbero$/'
   needs:
     - "cerbero deps macos x86_64"
 
 build cerbero macos x86_64:
   extends: '.cerbero macos x86_64'
-  variables:
-    EXCEPT_PROJECT_REGEX: '/^(cerbero|gst-build|gst-docs|gst-omx|gst-sharp|gstreamer-vaapi|gst-integration-testsuites|gst-plugins-rs)$/'
+  rules:
+    - if: '$CI_PROJECT_NAME !~ /^(cerbero|gst-build|gst-docs|gst-omx|gst-sharp|gstreamer-vaapi|gst-integration-testsuites|gst-plugins-rs)$/'
 
 #
 # Cerbero iOS build
@@ -792,22 +792,20 @@ cerbero deps cross-ios universal:
 
 cerbero cross-ios universal:
   extends: '.cerbero cross-ios universal'
-  variables:
-    ONLY_PROJECT_REGEX: '/^cerbero$/'
   needs:
     - "cerbero deps cross-ios universal"
 
 build cerbero cross-ios universal:
   extends: '.cerbero cross-ios universal'
-  variables:
-    EXCEPT_PROJECT_REGEX: '/^(cerbero|gst-build|gst-docs|gst-omx|gst-sharp|gstreamer-vaapi|gst-integration-testsuites|gst-plugins-rs)$/'
+  rules:
+    - if: '$CI_PROJECT_NAME !~ /^(cerbero|gst-build|gst-docs|gst-omx|gst-sharp|gstreamer-vaapi|gst-integration-testsuites|gst-plugins-rs)$/'
 
 documentation:
   image: $FEDORA_IMAGE
   extends:
     - '.global_ci_policy'
-  variables:
-    EXCEPT_PROJECT_REGEX: '/^(cerbero|gst-build|gst-sharp|gst-integration-testsuites|gst-omx|gst-plugins-rs|gst-python)$/'
+  rules:
+    - if: '$CI_PROJECT_NAME !~ /^(cerbero|gst-build|gst-sharp|gst-integration-testsuites|gst-omx|gst-plugins-rs|gst-python)$/'
   needs:
     - "build fedora x86_64"
   stage: integrate
@@ -839,7 +837,8 @@ documentation:
       CODE_SIGN_IDENTITY=""
       CODE_SIGNING_ALLOWED="NO"
       CODE_SIGN_ENTITLEMENTS=""
-    EXCEPT_PROJECT_REGEX: '/^(cerbero|gst-build|gst-omx|gstreamer-vaapi|gst-integration-testsuites|gst-plugins-rs)$/'
+  rules:
+    - if: '$CI_PROJECT_NAME !~ /^(cerbero|gst-build|gst-omx|gstreamer-vaapi|gst-integration-testsuites|gst-plugins-rs)$/'
   script:
     # install the binaries
     - installer -pkg gstreamer-1.0-devel-*-ios-universal.pkg -target CurrentUserHomeDirectory -verbose
@@ -873,8 +872,8 @@ cross-ios universal examples:
 
 cerbero cross-ios universal examples:
   extends: ".cross-ios universal examples"
-  variables:
-    ONLY_PROJECT_REGEX: '/^cerbero$/'
+  rules:
+    - if: '$CI_PROJECT_NAME == "cerbero"'
   needs:
     - "cerbero cross-ios universal"
 
@@ -882,8 +881,8 @@ build gst-omx zynq fedora x86_64:
   extends: 'build fedora x86_64'
   variables:
     MESON_ARGS: "-Domx=enabled -Dgst-omx:target=zynqultrascaleplus -Dgst-omx:header_path=${CI_PROJECT_DIR}/vcu-omx-il/omx_header -Dpython=disabled -Dlibav=disabled -Dlibnice=disabled -Dugly=disabled -Dbad=disabled -Ddevtools=disabled -Dges=disabled -Drtsp_server=disabled -Dvaapi=disabled -Dsharp=disabled -Dgst-examples=disabled -Drs=disabled ${MESON_BUILDTYPE_ARGS} --werror"
-    EXCEPT_PROJECT_REGEX: ''
-    ONLY_PROJECT_REGEX: '/^(gst-omx|gst-ci)$/'
+  rules:
+    - if: '$CI_PROJECT_NAME =~ /^(gst-omx|gst-ci)$/'
   before_script:
     - git clone https://github.com/Xilinx/vcu-omx-il.git --branch=release-2019.2 ${CI_PROJECT_DIR}/vcu-omx-il
 
@@ -892,8 +891,8 @@ build gst-omx tizonia fedora x86_64:
   variables:
     MESON_ARGS: "-Domx=enabled -Dgst-omx:target=tizonia -Dpython=disabled -Dlibav=disabled -Dlibnice=disabled -Dugly=disabled -Dbad=disabled -Ddevtools=disabled -Dges=disabled -Drtsp_server=disabled -Dvaapi=disabled -Dsharp=disabled -Dgst-examples=disabled -Drs=disabled ${MESON_BUILDTYPE_ARGS} --werror"
     PKG_CONFIG_PATH: ${PKG_CONFIG_PATH}:${CI_PROJECT_DIR}/tizonia-install/lib64/pkgconfig/
-    EXCEPT_PROJECT_REGEX: ''
-    ONLY_PROJECT_REGEX: '/^(gst-omx|gst-ci)$/'
+  rules:
+    - if: '$CI_PROJECT_NAME =~ /^(gst-omx|gst-ci)$/'
   before_script:
     - git clone https://github.com/tizonia/tizonia-openmax-il --branch v0.20.2
     - cd tizonia-openmax-il