World Rugby's Executive Board has agreed new player workload guidelines for the elite game, the sport's governing body said on Wednesday, and next year's inaugural Nations Championship can now go ahead as planned.

The guidelines - recommended to World Rugby by a project group of experts - state that players should play no more than 30 games in a single season or six consecutive match weeks, and should also have a dedicated five-week off-season break.

Players will also be entitled to minimum rest periods of at least one week when selected for international fixtures, and across a year have 12 weeks of non-contact time, with clearer communication encouraged between club and country.

"These guidelines are the result of much intense negotiation over many years, I'd like to congratulate all i

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