Rugby clubs recruiting players in Canada
4 clubs in Canada are recruiting through Rugby Unlocked, with 1 open vacancy right now. 1 offers housing, 2 help with visas and 4 help players find work. Every club below has a public profile you can read before you apply. Applying is free for players.
Playing club rugby in Canada
- Season
- Two calendars. British Columbia plays through the winter: the 2026/27 senior season starts on 12 September 2026 and ends with the club finals on 8 May 2027. Ontario plays through the summer, with Marshall Premiership fixtures from early May.
- Leagues
- BC Rugby runs seven senior divisions including the men's and women's Premier Leagues. Ontario's Marshall Premiership is the top men's club level in the province: eight clubs, a 14-round league then a four-week playoff, with the Marshall Championship below it.
- Visa
- International Experience Canada, Working Holiday category. UK citizens aged 18 to 35 inclusive get an open work permit for a first participation of up to 24 months and a second of 12. You need CAD 2,500 in funds and health insurance; the fees are CAD 184.75 for IEC plus CAD 100 for the open work permit.
- Clearance
- World Rugby Regulation 4: a player leaving one union to play in another cannot be registered or play until the new union has received a Clearance from the old one. Ask your current club and union for it before you travel; it stays valid until replaced by a later one.
Pick the province by the calendar. A player who wants a northern-style winter season goes to British Columbia; one who wants to play a summer between two European seasons goes to Ontario. The IEC permit is open, so a club can help you find any work rather than having to employ you itself.
We found no Rugby Canada rule limiting foreign players at club level. The clearance requirement is World Rugby's and applies regardless.
Read on from BC Rugby, 2026/27 senior club season key dates, Rugby Ontario, Marshall Premiership, Government of Canada, International Experience Canada eligibility by country, IRCC, fee list, World Rugby, Regulation 4 (player movement and clearances).