World Rugby’s Executive Board has agreed on new player load guidelines to cover the elite men’s and women’s game around the world. The new guidelines have been recommended to World Rugby by a project group of leading experts representing players, unions, regions and competitions around the globe.
The guidelines are supported by scientific evidence or, in the absence of existing studies, expert opinion. The guidelines take a precautionary approach to player load in all circumstances in line with existing World Rugby policies and guidelines on player welfare. The guidelines will act as a backstop where no local agreement around player load currently exists.
The new guidelines state that players should:
- Play no more than 30 games in a single season or six consecutive match weeks.
- Have a dedicated 5-week off-season break.
- Be entitled to minimum rest periods should they be selected for international fixtures of at least 1 week.
- Across a year, have 12 weeks of non-contact time.
- Communicate thoroughly between Club & Country.
Player welfare is at the heart of everything that rugby does, and World Rugby has made agreement of these new guidelines a condition of approval for the new Nations Championship, which can now begin in the summer of 2026.
Chairman of World Rugby, Dr Brett Robinson, added: “These guidelines are the result of much intense negotiation over many years. I’d like to congratulate all involved on achieving this agreement. As with all World Rugby policies, these guidelines are informed by the latest science and expert opinion.
“Our hope, over time, is that unions and competitions reach local agreements to best serve the individual circumstances of players. In the meantime, these guidelines provide a solid backstop. As we grow our sport, players can be sure that they are being well supported by their clubs, unions and at the very top of the game by World Rugby.”
