RUGBY TAKES THE CAP

NO RUGBY player will play more than 30 games a year going forward after World Rugby announced clear guidelines aimed at reducing player fatigue and injury.

The issue of too much rugby has plagued the game for some time, notably in South Africa, where rugby is played for 52 weeks of the year because of the country’s unique position of featuring in the northern hemisphere at provincial level, but in the southern hemisphere at international level.

In Mzansi, coaches and their unions have largely been making it up as they go along, although SA Rugby has been decreeing mandatory rest periods for their contracted Springboks.

Now there are no more grey areas after the world governing body accepted the recommendations made by a project group of leading experts representing players, unions, regions and competitions around the globe.

The new rules limit players to 30 full games in a season. They also cannot play more than six consecutive games. 

Players are now entitled to a rest period of at least one week after international

selection, and at least five weeks off each season. Each year, a player must have at least 12 weeks of non-contact time.

In a statement released on Wednesday, chairperson of World Rugby, Brett Robinson, wysed: “These guidelines are the result of much intense negotiation over many years.

“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.”