Play Rugby in Timaru, New Zealand

Do you want to play rugby in the South Island of New Zealand next season? Are you thinking about a taking up a better lifestyle with affordable housing in a regional NZ location? Or are you traveling to New Zealand and want to immerse yourself in a local amateur club? Did you know that Timaru has been ranked the Top Regional Location to live? https://www.stuff.co.nz/national/131459253/want-to-move-out-of-the-city-but-not-sure-where-here-are-the-regions-ranked

Timaru Old Boys has a proud history of welcoming players into our club family. We are always looking for players from around the globe and elsewhere in New Zealand who are looking for an authentic New Zealand rugby experience regardless of skill.

As an amateur club we will be able to assist in securing accommodation (with other players), support in finding work and a supportive base for employment and life while in Timaru, New Zealand.

We play in the South Canterbury competition and have two senior teams to slot into. If you are coming from overseas or the North Island and looking to play rugby in Timaru, New Zealand get in touch by email at club@timaruoldboys.com.

***Our Supporters Club is prepared to sponsor key Senior players with inbound flights for employment purposes.  If you fit the bill, please make contact with a profile.

Check out our website and the 'Links to Rugby in SC' section of this website for more information on the benefits of a move to South Canterbury. We have been rated the best regional destination in New Zealand to live and work!

International Clearances

International Clearances are a requirement under the International Rugby Board (IRB) Regulations which apply to all countries that are members of the IRB. A player is not eligible to play rugby in another country at any level until they have a valid International Clearance.

The process is generally quicker and smoother if this is initiated with the player's current International Union and completed before the player returns to New Zealand:

  1. The player must complete and sign the IRB clearance form and seek the approval of the overseas club that they are playing for. 
  2. The overseas club will then forward the form onto its National Union, who will sign and stamp the "Current Union" section of the clearance and forward it to NZR. 
  3. NZR will finalise the clearance by signing and stamping the "New Union" section and sending a copy to the New Zealand Provincial Union and the departed National Union. 
  4. The new Provincial Union will inform the club that the player has been cleared.
  5. The Club should notify the player accordingly.