World Rugby's New Player Welfare Guidelines

World Rugby's Executive Board has agreed on new player workload guidelines for the elite game, paving the way for the inaugural Nations Championship to kick off in summer 2026.

“Player welfare is at the heart of everything that rugby does...” 

World Rugby's Executive Board has agreed on new player workload guidelines for the elite game, paving the way for the inaugural Nations Championship to proceed as planned in 2026. These guidelines aim to prioritize player welfare by limiting the number of games played in a single season.

Major Guidelines

• Maximum Games per Season: Players are limited to 30 full games in a single season or six consecutive match weeks.

• Off-Season Break: A dedicated five-week off-season break is mandatory for all players.

• Rest Periods: Players are entitled to minimum rest periods of at least one week when selected for international fixtures.

• Non-Contact Time: Across a year, players will have 12 weeks of non-contact time.

• Communication: Clearer communication is encouraged between clubs and national teams to manage player workloads effectively.

These guidelines are supported by scientific evidence and expert opinion, taking a precautionary approach to player load in all circumstances. World Rugby Chairman Dr. Brett Robinson emphasized that player welfare is at the heart of everything rugby does, and these guidelines provide a solid foundation for protecting players. The new biennial 12-team Nations Championship, involving top teams like Six Nations countries, Australia, New Zealand, South Africa, and Argentina, will adhere to these guidelines.

“These guidelines are the result of much intense negotiation over many years, I'd like to congratulate all involved on achieving this agreement,” World Rugby Chairman Brett Robinson said in a statement.

“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.”

World Rugby says the guidelines are supported by scientific evidence or in the absence of existing studies, expert opinion and take a precautionary approach to player load in all circumstances.

“Player welfare is at the heart of everything that rugby does,” World Rugby said.

“And World Rugby had made agreement of these new guidelines a condition of approval for the new Nations Championship which can now begin in the summer of 2026.”

The World Rugby Nations Championship is a new biennial tournament featuring 12 top-tier teams, scheduled to kick off in 2026. The competition will bring together the six nations of England, France, Italy, Ireland, Scotland, and Wales, along with Argentina, Australia, New Zealand, and South Africa. Fiji and Japan are expected to join as the two invited unions, rounding out the 12-team lineup.

Competition Format:

European Conference: Featuring the Six Nations unions

Rest of World Conference: Comprising SANZAAR nations (Argentina, Australia, New Zealand, and South Africa) and the two invited unions (Fiji and Japan)

Each team will play six matches against teams from the opposing conference, with a grand final between the top teams in each conference to determine the champion. The tournament will take place during the mid-year and end-of-year international windows, and its introduction has sparked debate about its potential impact on smaller nations and the Rugby World Cup.