Rugby Australia and New Zealand Rugby Maintain Overseas Player Policies

Rugby Australia plans to select no more than three overseas-based players for the Wallabies, excluding those on short-term sabbaticals. The organization prefers players who compete in Super Rugby Pacific to support its four domestic teams. New Zealand Rugby maintains a stricter rule that bars players based outside New Zealand from All Blacks selection.

Players returning from overseas must first play in domestic competitions before becoming eligible.

Wallabies centre Len Ikitau told BBC Sport last week that he may return to Exeter after the 2027 Rugby World Cup. Ikitau joined Exeter with approval from Rugby Australia and the ACT Brumbies as part of a contract extension. New Zealand Rugby chief executive Steve Lancaster stated this month that the board has not been asked to relax eligibility rules for fly half Richie Mo'unga.

Mo'unga signed an 18-month contract with New Zealand Rugby that begins in July and requires him to play for Canterbury before All Blacks consideration.

The Queensland Reds lost 19-14 to the Western Force after resting four key players. Coach Les Kiss said the decision was a calculated measure and that he would make the same choice again. The win leaves the Waratahs two points behind the Reds in the Super Rugby Pacific standings.