New Guidelines To Protect Professional Rugby Players Welfare

World Rugby has revealed new guidelines designed to protect the welfare of professional players, which have been welcomed by the International Rugby Players Association (IRPA) and will limit professionals to a maximum of 30 full games per season, among other guidelines.

World Rugby said in a statement that “World Rugby’s Executive Board has agreed 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.”

International Rugby Players Association (IRPA) welcomed the formal approval of new guidelines, stating, “The measures provide the most significant step towards safeguarding players from excessive match and training demands.”

IRPA Chief Executive, Omar Hassanein, said: “This is a landmark moment for rugby. These guidelines put player welfare and safety at the heart of the global game and ensure that athletes can perform at their best while protecting their long-term health.”

The guidelines have been developed by players in partnership with World Rugby, unions, and competitions and are designed to recognise and respect existing guidelines that are already in place in a number of countries and competitions, and where this isn’t the case, the guidelines provide a set of principles to manage player load.

Chairman of World Rugby Dr Brett Robinson added, “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.”

The six-point plan was released in Mid-2025 by World Rugby

World Rugby Guidelines – Professional Player Welfare

The governing body claimed, “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.”

• Guaranteed Time Off – Every player will have at least five straight weeks away from rugby each year, free from team duties.
• Match Limits – No player will take part in more than 30 matches a season, with a compulsory one-week break after six consecutive games.
• Recovery Blocks – 1 week rest recommended for those playing 3 or more consecutive international matches and 2 weeks post-Rugby World Cup.
• Smarter Scheduling – Clubs and unions must work together to manage player workload, especially after intense international windows.
• Non-contact Blocks – Competitions and unions are encouraged to utilise non-contact weeks to manage player load, particularly for players facing 12-month seasons

The full guidelines can be read here.

What the IRPA Said – New Rugby Player Welfare Guidelines

IRPA Chief of Rugby Operations, Conrad Smith, commented: “It’s been a long road to get to this point. These guidelines were debated intensely as we had to balance elite performance and player well-being with the commercial realities facing our sport. I believe they are a massive step forward for rugby, and they will benefit not only the athletes but also the future of the sport.”

Our efforts in the past have focused on player behaviour, with harsher sanctions for foul play and lowering the tackle height. While we support these efforts, we equally acknowledge that these have had little material difference on the number of concussions and Head Acceleration Events (HAEs). The most material impact we can have on player injury rates is through management of player load, specifically through managing match numbers and contact training.

These guidelines won’t immediately solve this problem, but they mark a significant step forward towards governing bodies taking greater responsibility for the management of player load,” said the former All Black and two-time Rugby World Cup winner, Conrad Smith.

The IRPA added that the Player Load Project Group will continue to monitor the impact of the measures and adapt them as required to ensure they meet the evolving demands of the game.

The Player Load Project Group comprises:

• Juian Piscone (FFR) – Chair
• Conrad Smith, Sharon Flahive, Rachel Burford, Danielle Salmon (IRPA)
• Ross Tucker, Steve Mellalieu, Des Ryan (Independent)
• Julie Paterson (Six Nations)
• Matt Cross (Prem Rugby)
• Sylvain Blanchard (LNR)
• Lesley McKenzie, Nick Gill, Andy Edwards, Juan Fernandez Lobbe, Kevin Rouet (Union coaches/High Performance Managers)
• Johan van Graan, Stuart Lancaster and John Dobson (Club coaches)
• Mark Harrington, Eanna Falvey, Lindsay Starling, Kevin Bouwer (World Rugby)

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