The HPA announced the definition of Home Grown Player (HGP) in July 2024 following work by the British Opportunities Working Group and consulting with lawyers. A rule requiring one HGP per team has been in place for the 12-goal VL for the 2025 season and will be rolled out into the 15-goal and 18-goal VL in 2026. In addition, any player with a handicap of 5 goals or below (who is not a patron or team owner) playing in 22-goal VL polo will also need to be a HGP from 2026.
An Home Grown Player (HGP) is defined in the HPA Rule Book as follows:
Home Grown Player. To qualify as a Home Grown Player, a player must either:
(1) hold a British or Irish passport;
OR
(2) for a period of three years before reaching 3 goals* AND before the age of 18 have:
(a) been a member of (i) the HPA and an HPA club or (ii) the Pony Club; AND
(b) been resident in the UK for a minimum of 18 weeks between 15th April and 15th September; AND
(c) played at least five UK tournaments in each calendar year (can include the Pony Club, Schools and University Polo Association, HPA Victor / Victrix Ludorum and domestic club tournaments).
*This means that the player is 2 goals or under in each of these 3 years
Applying for HGP Status
Any player who holds a British or Irish passport and is listed as doing so on the HPA website using the member search feature here does NOT need to apply for HGP status. To ensure a player who does not hold a British or Irish passport can be recognised as an HGP, they must apply the HPA using this form.
We encourage players to apply as early as possible as applications will be dealt with on a first-come, first-served basis. Applicants should expect a minimum time of 5 working days for the application to be determined. When HGP status has been determined by the HPA, the applicant will be notified and if deemed a HGP their name will appear on the HPA website. Please note that the player must have already fulfilled the requirements for the full three years before their application will be considered.
