Rugby Union: Play the mini season in New Zealand

Club structure

Our New Zealand rugby clubs usually have 5-7 senior men’s teams, 2-3 colts teams (U21) and an U19 team. Many clubs also have active women’s sections.

Top teams at each club play in the highest provincial leagues, whereas lower level teams are focused more on having fun.

Matches and training

You’ll train 2-3 times a week with matches played at the weekends. Clubs have lots of pitches and most teams’ matches will kick off at 3pm. Everyone then gathers in the clubhouse afterwards for post-match drinks.

Most participants will play Colts rugby. The Colts competitions are taken seriously by the clubs and offer an excellent standard of rugby. If you play for your club’s Colts First team, you’ll play with and against New Zealand’s top schoolboy players, some of whom are part of Super 14 academies.

Off the pitch

With so many members, your club will be a hive of social activity. There’ll be drinks after training and matches, plus social events throughout the season. Many clubs also arrange pre-season tours - a great chance to get to know your team mates whilst exploring a new part of New Zealand.

Rugby development

Our clubs are selected for their high quality coaching and facilities, helping you to return home as a much-improved player.

…and finally

New Zealand’s a beautiful country, famous for its rugby, so what are you waiting for?

Working in New Zealand

You’ll be living close to lots of employment options like offices, shops, bars and restaurants. Contacts at your sport club might also help you to find coaching work.

In addition, your mentor will provide guidance on working in New Zealand but you should ensure you’re well prepared as the job market can be as competitive as the sports arena!

1. What type of visa do I need and what are the restrictions?

Most UK citizens aged 18-30 are eligible for a New Zealand Working Holiday Visa which enables holders to live and work in New Zealand for up to 12 months. It costs around £60 and can take up to 4 weeks to process so we recommend getting the paperwork sorted well in advance of your departure.

If you don’t wish to work whilst away, a standard holiday Visa is available for most UK citizens. This is processed on arrival in New Zealand and allows participants to stay in New Zealand for up to 12 months.

For more information see the Travel & Visa section in the Need to Know area of our site.

2. What’s included in the price of my programme and how much spending money will I require?

The cost of all Sport Lived programmes includes the following:

• 4-star accommodation including most household bills (telephone and internet charges are NOT covered)
• membership of your rugby club
• airport pick-up at the start of your programme
• mentor support throughout your stay
• a handbook with useful information

The programme cost does NOT include the following:

• flights, insurance, visas, return airport transfer, local transport or food

Your main costs whilst overseas will be transport, match/competition fees plus food and beer money. A cost of living guide for each Sport Lived destination is provided in the Need to Know section. This should help you plan and budget for your time away.

3. Do I need to be an elite player?

Absolutely not! We cater for players of all abilities.  We will obtain further information on your sporting ability once you have submitted your booking form.  This allows us to match you with a suitable club. If you’re an elite player, we’ll ensure you’re matched with a top class club who know you’re serious about sport!

4. When will I find out full details of my programme e.g. what club I will join and where I will live?

Once you have sent in a booking form, we’ll start working behind the scenes to put everything in place for the perfect programme. 3-4 weeks later you’ll receive a confirmation document outlining details of your club, key dates and an overview of your specific programme details.

Final payment for all programmes is due 12 weeks before departure which allows us to finalise accommodation arrangements and send you details of your flatmates and your new address in New Zealand!

The pre-departure briefing takes place around 8 weeks before you join us and provides a chance for you and your parents to meet up with the Sport Lived team and fellow participants and ask any remaining questions you may have.

5. How can I find out more general information?

Hopefully, most key pieces of information are available on the website where you can download programme notes, prices and dates. Our Need to Know section also contains lots of useful information. If you have other questions or just want to have a chat, we’re always available either on the phone or via email.

We know that planning a trip overseas can be scary at times and there’s loads to think about. So don’t hesitate to get in touch if you need to discuss anything at all.