Player's Guide to Rugby Canada Club Rugby All Ages 2026

• Provincial Unions and clubs set their own fees. Rugby Canada publishes a 2026 Membership Categories and Season Fees document.
• If you hold several roles (for example player and coach), you pay only the highest Rugby Canada and provincial membership fee.
• Monthly instalments apply only to club fees. Rugby Canada and provincial fees are paid in full at registration.
• Clubs can add their own terms and conditions and can collect extra fees such as levies through the PlayHQ shop, but cannot take offline payments for Rugby Canada or provincial fees.
• Refunds: automatic within 15 days of purchase if no rugby activity has taken place. After 15 days, each party (club, province, Rugby Canada) must approve its portion.

• 72-hour and 2-week memberships: limited to one per person. You must upgrade for any competition after the window.
• 12-week membership: non-contact only, tied to one program and location. Holders cannot take part in interclub activity such as festivals, exhibitions or regular-season games. It covers only the program you signed up for. Fully registered members can join a 12-week program at their current club; members of another club must register for it there.
• Upgrading from a temporary to a full membership gets a discount on Rugby Canada and provincial fees where applicable. Club fees are never discounted.
• Off-season memberships (2026): Alberta, Saskatchewan, Manitoba, Ontario, Quebec, New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, Newfoundland and PEI from January 1 to April 30, 2026. BC from April 15 to August 15, 2026.
• Social memberships have no exposure to the National Insurance Program.

Rugby Canada's sanctioning process checks activities against Rugby Canada, Provincial Union and World Rugby rules. Only sanctioned events are eligible for insurance to be extended.

• Automatic sanction: officially sanctioned provincial leagues and competitions, if the member is in good standing and all participants are registered.
• Tournaments: a PlayHQ request is needed when clubs come from multiple Provincial Unions or non-member or international teams are involved. Not needed when all clubs are from the same Provincial Union. Allow four weeks' notice.
• Exhibition games: a PlayHQ game request is needed for matches between clubs from different Provincial Unions, member versus non-member teams, and international matches. Not needed for two clubs in the same Provincial Union.
• Tours and out-of-province competition: formal application through PlayHQ with a roster of registered participants. Approval must come from the Provincial Union, then Rugby Canada, before the activity.
• Timing: submit at least two weeks ahead. A $50 late fee applies to applications under two weeks out. Exhibition games and tournaments have no sanctioning fee.
• Come and Try events: must be non-contact and standalone. The first two per calendar year are free; each from the third costs $50.
• Unsanctioned tours may lead to disciplinary action and may not be eligible for insurance claims.

Under World Rugby Regulation 4, as applied by Rugby Canada, players need clearance from their current union.

Moving to Canada

• Your current union sends the approved clearance directly to Rugby Canada. Rugby Canada accepts clearances only from the union you are leaving.
• Your current club must confirm there are no contractual obstacles and that you are eligible.
• Rugby Canada then clears you and sends the confirmation letter to the Canadian club's secretary and/or Provincial Union.

Leaving Canada

• Use Rugby Canada's own International Clearance Form (English or French), signed by your club and Provincial Union, and emailed to Rugby Canada.
• Rugby Canada aims to return complete paperwork within 14 business days.
• Once cleared, your Rugby Canada membership becomes inactive immediately and you are no longer covered by the National Insurance Program.
• Major League Rugby players must also submit a Temporary Player Release Request Form.

Clearance is required for competitions organized, recognized or sanctioned by Rugby Canada or its Provincial Unions, and for friendly matches. It may be refused if, for example, you are suspended by another union or have outstanding financial obligations. Playing without clearance can lead to an investigation and misconduct proceedings against the player and/or club.

Under Rugby Canada's Concussion Policy:

• If you are under 26, you must provide written or electronic confirmation that you have reviewed concussion awareness resources within the past 12 months.
• If you are under 26, you must also sign the Concussion Code of Conduct.
• If you are under 18, your parent or guardian must also confirm they have reviewed the resources and sign the Concussion Code of Conduct.
• Coaches, managers and other support personnel must also confirm they reviewed the resources and sign the Code, unless they work exclusively with athletes aged 26 or older.

The Code says you will wear proper equipment correctly, respect the rules, take concussions seriously, stop immediately if you think you might have a concussion, and tell an adult if you think another player has one.

Under Rugby Canada's Concussion Policy:

• Anyone with a suspected concussion (observable signs, symptoms or wrong answers to memory questions) must be removed from participation immediately by a designated person.
• If you show an impact seizure, tonic posturing, ataxia, poor balance or amnesia, you should not return to that match or training that day unless an experienced healthcare practitioner determines the sign was not related to a concussion.
• The designated person should consider calling 9-1-1, and Rugby Canada must keep a record of the removal.
• If you are under 18, your parent or guardian must be told that you need a medical assessment by a physician or nurse practitioner before you can return.
• You should be monitored, not left alone for at least the first 1 to 2 hours, not drink alcohol or use recreational or prescription drugs, not be sent home by yourself, and not drive until cleared by a medical professional.
• You should not return until assessed medically, even if the symptoms go away. The SCAT6 (over 12) or Child SCAT6 (8 to 12) is best done within 72 hours of injury.
• During the first 24 to 48 hours, relative rest applies: daily activities and light activity such as walking are fine, but avoid vigorous exertion.
• Red flags such as neck pain, seizure, loss of consciousness, repeated vomiting or a severe or worsening headache mean a healthcare professional should be summoned and, if needed, an ambulance called.

Rugby Canada's Concussion Policy sets a graduated return-to-sport strategy:

1. Symptom-limited activity (can start within 24 hours of injury)
2. Light aerobic exercise, then moderate (up to about 55%, then about 70% of max heart rate)
3. Sport-specific exercise away from the team, with no activities at risk of head impact
4. Non-contact training drills
5. Full contact practice, after medical clearance
6. Return to sport (normal participation)

• Allow at least 24 hours (or longer) for each step. If symptoms return or worsen, go back to the previous step; if they persist, see a physician again.
• Steps 4 to 6 begin only after symptoms and any cognitive or clinical findings have resolved, including with and after exertion.
• You must give Rugby Canada a medical clearance form signed by a physician after Stage 5 and before Stage 6.
• The policy says to expect a minimum of 1 week to complete the strategy, and unrestricted return typically takes up to 1 month after the concussion.
• Student athletes should complete a full return to learn (school) strategy before unrestricted return to sport.

Source: Rugby Canada Concussion Policy and Code (April 2025 Sport Integrity Policy Suite).