Transfer Form, NZRL District & International Clearance Form, Returning to NZ
The full Transfer and Clearance Policies can be referenced in the ARL By-Laws which can be referenced in “About Us”. Below is a Key Points Summary of the ARL Transfer and Clearance Policy:
Transfers
Any player registering for a club other than the club in which they last played will require a transfer from their former club under the following conditions:
i. The player is returning from overseas play on an amateur clearance;
ii The player is returning to the league after having played rugby league in another New
Zealand Province and last played in the preceding twelve (12) months;
iii The player last played for an Auckland club, Auckland Provincial team or National team within
the previous twelve (12) months and has not played for any other football code in the interim;
iv The player is joining a league club for the first time but played rugby league elsewhere in New
Zealand or overseas and is required to transfer from their former club under the Rules and
Regulations of the New Zealand Rugby League.
Transfer Periods:
There are 2 Transfer Periods:
i 1 November to 14 Feburary – this is know as the “off-season” transfer period;
ii 15 February to 30 April for all Premiership Grades and 15 February to 31 May for all Senior and
Junior Grades – this is know as the “in-season transfer period”
iii No Transfer is required for players in non-competition grades (Mini/Mod Football);
iv No transfer is required for any player in Junior Competition Grades (U/13 to U/16) unless they
move from their club of registration during the season;
v In the “off-season” period only one (1) approved transfer per player can be submitted to the
same club in which the player has transferred to in any playing season;
Transfer PROCESS and POINTS
i All transfers must be on forms issued by the Auckland Rugby League and can only be submitted
on-line;
ii For all transfers the club from which the player is transferring has 14 days from the correctly
submitted date to respond approving or declining. If declining the former club must advise the
reason for declining. The only conditions for decline are outlined in iii. If no responce has been
recieved from the club in which the player is transferring, the transfer will be automatically
approved;
iii Under no circumstances can a player be denied a transfer if the club to who they are
transferring pays the requested transfer fee and the player does not have any financial
or contractual obligations to their former club from the previous season. Obligations are
defined as:
a. Financial - Annual Subscriptions;
b. Contractual – Any signed contract between the player and their former club that has
not been fulfilled;
c. Club Property – Trophies or Football playing gear.
iv In respect ot transfer fees, the club from whom a player is transferring may claim a fee of up
to:
a. Junior Kiwi, New Zealand Resident or New Zealand XIII player in the preceding
2 seasons of up to $3,500.00;
b. Auckland Representative or Auckland Vulcans Representative in the preceding
2 seasons once the player has played in 3 more more games of up to $3,500.00;
c. Auckland Premier Representative, Auckland (now known as Akarana) or
Counties/Manukau Zone Representatiuve in the preceding 2 seasons once
the player has played 3 or more games of up to $2,000.00;
d. Premiership player provided he has played 3 or more games in the preceding
season of up to $750.00;
e. Premier 1st player provided he has played 3 or more games in the preceding
season of up to $250.00;
f. All fees are inclusive of GST.
v The ARL can grant interim transfer approvals;
vi In the “off-season” transfer period no club can recieve any more that 3 players in any grade;
vii If any Senior or Junior grade player transfers clubs in either transfer period and participates
in 3 or more Premiership or Premier 1st grade games within 12 months of the date of his
transfer, the former club may claim the relevant fee applicable as outlined in (d) and (e) above;
viii No transfers/clearances will be processed after 12pm on the Friday prior to each weekends
play;
ix Any player refused a transfer from his former club has a right of appeal. Refer to the Appeals
Section of General Information for appeal procedures.
Clearances
Any player registering for a club other than who they last played will require a clearance from the club they last played for to confirm they have no outstanding obligations under the following circumstances:
i The player last played for an Auckland club or Provincial team or NZRL National team or
another sports code 12 months previously but not exceeding 24 months from the date of
their last game;
ii The player last played for an Auckland club but played overseas on an amateur clearance
over 12 months but not exceeding 24 months from their last game;
iii No clearances are required for players in Junior Grades;
iv No clearances shall be accepted between 1 May or 1 June and 31 October in any year
per the grade definition outlined in Transfers;
v All clearance applications must be completed on-line;
vi No fees can be placed on clearnaces and any conditions and condtion periods are as
outlined in the Transfer By-Law – 2h (ii) and (iv).
No player can be registered on any official registration sheet until all transfer/clearance requirements have been signed off by the players former club. If a registration is submitted prior to transfer/clearance formalities being completed, the registration will be invalid and a player deemed out of order in any game they participate in until a new registration has been submitted.