When can a province refuse a clearance, and what about a suspended player?

Under the SARU Player Status, Player Contracts and Player Movement Regulations (4.4-4.7), the current province's CEO may refuse a clearance only if:

• the player is a contract player who has not met their contract obligations (for example, must play for the club or province until after the intended move date); or
• the player is serving a disciplinary suspension of more than 5 weeks.

The province may not refuse a clearance because of a suspension of 5 weeks or less, or for any other reason. On the current clearance form, the current province declares that the player is not suspended for more than five weeks (including any doping offence), and the new province agrees that any remaining suspension applies to matches under its jurisdiction.

Disputes about a clearance go to the SARU CEO, who opens an enquiry or has it decided under the Disciplinary and Judicial Matters Regulations, preferably within 3 days.

No player may take part in an SA Rugby competition while serving a suspension imposed by World Rugby, SARU, a province, club or other competent body.