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‘It’d be enormous’: Waugh keen to welcome All Blacks onto Aussie Super Rugby teams

New Zealand Rugby and Rugby Australia are set to discuss a radical overhaul of Super Rugby to create an NRL-style, “open borders” competition, in which Test stars could join any team and still be considered a “home player”.

Published: Friday, 30 October 2026 at 6:00 AM
‘It’d be enormous’: Waugh keen to welcome All Blacks onto Aussie Super Rugby teams
Key Things to Know
  • Rugby Australia CEO Phil Waugh wants to fast-track talks to allow All Blacks to play for Australian Super Rugby teams.
  • New Zealand Rugby confirmed it is open to discussing changes to its overseas eligibility policy for Super Rugby.
  • The proposed "open borders" model would treat any Super Rugby club as domestic for national team selection purposes.
The Story in 60 Seconds

Rugby Australia boss Phil Waugh wants to fast-track discussions with New Zealand Rugby regarding an "open borders" Super Rugby model. New Zealand Rugby announced it is open to reviewing its strict eligibility policy, potentially allowing All Blacks stars to play for Australian Super Rugby clubs without losing national team selection eligibility.

Waugh described the potential overhaul as "enormous" for rejuvenating the tournament and attracting investors. Both bodies aim to elevate Super Rugby into an investible product, though Waugh noted safeguards would be required to protect opportunities for young Australian players.

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