International rugby residency ruling may give Hong Kong options on pathway to World Cup
- Players can now become eligible via five years of ‘rugby registration’ with a club or union, without needing unbroken residency
World Rugby’s decision to hand Asia a direct route to the 2027 World Cup was not the only one they made affecting the game this week, it just got more attention.
Of almost equal importance was the soft launch of a change to the residency rules, that could make a big difference to the ability of tier two teams, such as Hong Kong, to compete with those above them.
From the start of this month, any player not eligible through birth or otherwise with a “genuine, close, credible and established link to a union” no longer needs five years of unbroken residency in the country or region they wish to represent.
“Under the revised approach, ‘rugby registration’ over a 60-month period will need to be demonstrated via registration with a rugby body, including a national union or club,” World Rugby said in a release.
“The onus will be on the union and rugby body to demonstrate the relevant proof of unbroken registration when considering an eligibility case on rugby residency.”
While that may not have too great an impact on Hong Kong’s potential run to the 2027 tournament, it opens possibilities beyond that, although the softly, softly approach of World Rugby’s announcement means there are plenty of grey areas.
