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International Clearances

An International Clearance is a requirement under the World Rugby Regulations which apply to all countries that are members of World Rugby. A player or team is not eligible to play rugby in another country at any level until they have a valid international clearance.

What is an International Clearance?

International clearances are a requirement under the World Rugby Regulations which apply to all countries that are members of World Rugby. A player is not eligible to play rugby in another country at any level until they have a valid international clearance.  A club or Provincial Rugby Union who plays a player without a clearance could face sanctions, such as a loss of points or a fine.

The requirement to have a valid international clearance applies to all players – male and female, senior and junior, amateur and professional.

There are no exceptions to this World Rugby Regulatory requirement, and New Zealand Rugby does not have any discretion to allow players to play without a clearance.

It is a player’s responsibility to ensure they have an international clearance before they play.

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