"Overseas Athletes in Australian Rugby Now Unrestricted" or " Australia Lifts Barriers for Foreign Rugby Stars"
In a significant shift for Australian rugby, Rugby Australia has eliminated the 'Giteau's Law' policy, paving the way for head coach Joe Schmidt to select any player worldwide, regardless of whether they are overseas-based [1][3][5].
The previous policy restricted overseas-based Australians to those with at least 30 tests or five years of service, and limited the number of such picks per series to three. This limitation has now been declared redundant and abolished.
Key details of the new policy include:
- No restrictions on the number of overseas-based players that can be selected. Joe Schmidt can pick players from any international club without limitation, as confirmed by Rugby Australia's director of high performance, Peter Horne [1][2][3][5].
- The policy change was announced in August 2025, shortly after Australia's British & Irish Lions series, marking a strategic shift to enable selection of Australia's strongest possible squad ahead of the Rugby Championship and the 2027 Rugby World Cup [3][5].
- Rugby Australia still expresses a preference for selecting domestic players if they are of equal calibre, aiming to maintain investment and competitiveness in the Australian premier rugby competitions [2][5]. However, this is a selection preference, not a rule-based restriction.
- Prominent overseas-based players such as Samu Kerevi, Marika Koroibete, Will Skelton, Taniela Tupou, Langi Gleeson, and Tom Hooper are now fully eligible without any previous limitations tied to their overseas clubs [1][3][5].
The decision to select players, domestic or foreign, will be at the discretion of head coach Joe Schmidt. The change in player selection rules does not affect the eligibility criteria for representing Australia at the international level.
Historically, Australia had a complete ban on overseas players until 2015, when Giteau's Law was introduced. The new policy does not repeat the previous iterations of Giteau's Law, which had specific requirements for Super Rugby and national team experience for foreign-based players.
Peter Horne, Rugby Australia's director of high performance, stated that Joe Schmidt has no impediment to select whoever he wants. He also emphasized the importance of investing in Australia's premier competition for the development of local talent. The coaching staff encourages selecting Australian players if they can match the caliber of those playing abroad.
The Wallabies have faced challenges in maintaining squad depth and consistency, falling to sixth place in the world rankings following a disappointing performance in the 2023 Rugby World Cup in France. The trend of overseas players, such as Len Ikitau and Angus Bell, preparing for year-long stints in international leagues continues.
The relaxation of rules around selecting overseas players is part of a broader strategy to enhance Australian rugby's competitive edge while balancing the depth of player selection for the national squad. The exact timeline for the implementation of the new policy is yet to be determined.
Read also:
- Court petitions to reverse established decision on same-sex marriage legalization
- Commemoration of 200 Days of American Resurgence Unveiled
- Minister Bärbel Bas expresses doubts about her tenure as a minister following a recent interview during the summer.
- Politicians from both Republican and Democratic parties are urging President Trump to maintain the security agreement with Australia and the United Kingdom.
