Overview

• World Rugby’s executive board approved guidelines capping players at a maximum of 30 full games per season or six consecutive match weeks.
• The measures require a dedicated five-week off-season, at least one week of rest after international duty, and 12 weeks of non-contact time each year.
• The framework covers elite men’s and women’s rugby and sets expectations for thorough communication between clubs and national teams.
• The guidelines are presented as precautionary and evidence-informed, acting where no local player-load agreements exist.
• International Rugby Players Association backed the move as a landmark for welfare, and World Rugby tied adoption to the new Nations Championship slated to begin in 2026.