Dispensation Information & Requests

NZRL Player Participation Policy

 

CURRENT POLICIES:

  • Minimum age to play Rugby League:

The minimum age a player can be registered is 4 years of age, on or after 1 January in the year of registration. Players cannot play until they have reached 4 years of age. No dispensations will be considered.

 

  • Maximum age for mixed gender full contact Rugby League:

The maximum age for males and females to play mixed gender full contact rugby league is 12 years of age. The players are to attain the age of 12 during the year of participation. No dispensations will be considered.

 

  • Minimum age requirements to participate in open age, open weight rugby league grades: 

The player has attained or will have attained at least seventeen (17) years of age by the 31 December in the year preceding the commencement of the season. This policy shall apply equally to male and female Rugby League players. Exemption consideration from this policy will be treated on a case-by-case basis and must be submitted through and have the support of the players District League.  

 

  • Playing above eligible age:

The maximum a player can play above their eligible age-restricted grade is 2 years as of 1 January in the year of participation.

 

Example: Grace Brown is 13 years of age on 1 January 2026. She is eligible to play in the U14 grade as she is 13 and does not turn 14 until 28 May 2026. The coach of the U16 team would also like Grace to play in the U16 team. Grace would only be eligible to play in the U16 team when she turns 14 on 28 May 2026.

 

In respect to dispensation application considerations, the Medical Panel have resolved in line with the policy that NO dispensation applications will be accepted or considered for any player (both male and female) to play above the 2-year eligible age policy below the U16 grade. For clarification this includes Educational Football grades.

 

Some other examples:

  1. A player who is 8 years of age as at 1 January in the year of participation is wanted for the U11 team. They will not be eligible to play in the U11 team until they have turned 9.
  2. A player who is 12 years of age as at 1 January in the year of participation is wanted for the U15 team. They will not be eligible to play in the U15 team until they have turned 13.
  3. A player who is 13 years of age as at 1 January in the year of participation is wanted for the U16 team. They will not be eligible to play in the U16 team until they have turned 14.

This policy includes for all organised club, district and zone competition grades, participation trials, sanctioned tournaments, or events run by NZRL or their affiliates or associates.

 

Please note the above policies apply to both male and female participation.

 

Dispensation requests to play down a grade

In respect to dispensation application considerations to play in an age restricted grade below their eligible participation age, these will only be considered on medical grounds on a case by case basis and must be supported by the players District League and Zone. Any dispensation application will only be considered for a player 1 year below their eligible participation age. 

 

Dispensation Request Form 

Please note that all requests come to CRL before being sent to NZRL. Decisions will vary in time based on medical counsel bi-weekly meetings.