From educating participants about their responsibilities and raising awareness of doping risks to a robust testing programme, rugby is dedicated to ensuring integrity across all formats of the game.

Launched in 2005, World Rugby's Keep Rugby Clean (KRC) initiative has become instrumental in fostering an ethical, clean-sport ethos, with extensive buy-in from unions and players worldwide.

Dedicated Keep Rugby Clean days took place at two high-profile World Rugby tournaments in 2025, with KRC t-shirts promoting the initiative worn by players at both the World Rugby U20 Championship and Rugby World Cup 2025.

Italian U20 international Gianmarco Pietramala is one of many who recognise the importance of the anti-doping programme. “I have learned a lot from playing rugby: values that I have made my own and that I carry with me off the field as well. Committing collectively to keeping this wonderful sport clean is a shared goal that we must uphold at every level,” he said.

It is a message amplified by the World Anti-Doping Agency's (WADA) annual Play True Day, which was introduced in 2014 and is taking place this year on Friday, 17 April.

World Rugby is one of approximately 50 organisations supporting the global movement, which reaches millions of people every year.

Last year, the campaign generated a 49 per cent increase in social media engagement compared to 2024, reflecting the growing momentum behind the message of personal accountability to clean sport.

Underlining this, WADA's ‘Play True: It Starts With You’ 2026 campaign aims to highlight the individual responsibility of athletes, coaches and stakeholders in ensuring sport is played on a level playing field.

WADA President Witold Bańka said: “Once again, I am calling on athletes and the global anti-doping community to join us on Play True Day 2026.  

"Propelled by the theme, ‘Play True. It Starts with You,’ we reaffirm a simple but essential commitment that protecting sport begins with each of us. By choosing to Play True, every athlete, every Anti-Doping Organisation, and every other stakeholder contributes to safeguarding the integrity of sport for athletes worldwide.”

Mike Earl, World Rugby's Director of Anti-Doping, added: "World Rugby is delighted to give its full support to WADA's Play True Day. Integrity is the foundation of rugby, and we recognise how important it is to provide players and support staff around the world with effective education and awareness programmes, providing the tools, encouragement and support for them to be able to compete clean.  

"Through WADA's work in promoting Play True Day worldwide, and our flagship Keep Rugby Clean awareness campaign, we can ensure that the right messages are being delivered to the right participants at the right times, and that we can all contribute to maintaining a level playing field for our sport.  

"We encourage all who believe in clean sport to do whatever they can to show their support for Play True Day and Keep Rugby Clean today and throughout the year.”

In 2025, World Rugby took samples from 2,015 players in men’s and women’s rugby, in 15s and sevens, with 789 collected in competition and a further 1,226 taken out of competition.

For more information, visit WADA's official Play True Day page >>