Wikipedia

Rugby Players' Association

The Rugby Players' Association (RPA) is a trade union representing athletes who currently play or have played rugby union in England at a professional or semi-professional level. The RPA is the representative body and collective voice of professional rugby players in England and represents more than 800 male and female current rugby players, as well as more than 400 former players.

Overview edit

RPA members qualify for a wide range of benefits, including: independent representation; legal advice; personal and professional development; playing insurance; education; confidential counselling; transition support; and more. Members can also access the support of a charity, Restart, in the event of serious illness, injury or hardship.

The RPA has also acted as the exclusive commercial representative of the England Team since 2004 and performs the following duties on behalf of Team England: Negotiation of the Elite Players Squad Contract, England and Saxons match fees, England team win bonuses and Image Rights payments with the RFU. In August 2021, it was announced that the RPA would also act as exclusive commercial representatives for the England Women.[1]

The RPA was founded by professional player Damian Hopley, who was forced to early retirement after an injury.[2]

The RPA announced that Hopley was to leave the organisation after 24 years in charge of the company. His last day was on Monday 15 August, with a visit to Wasps.[3]

On Monday 16 January 2023, it was announced that Christian Day, was elected the new General Secretary of the RPA, following an election to the membership.[4]

Current board edit

The following rugby union professionals playing in England make up the current RPA Players' Board, as of the 2023–24 season:[5]

Role Player Team
Chairman   Ethan Waller Northampton (men)
Vice-Chairman   Harry Elrington Gloucester (men)
Board Member   Sarah Bern Bristol (women)
  Brett Connon Newcastle (men)
  Alex Davis Great Britain 7s (men)
  Will Evans Harlequins (men)
  Max Lahiff Bristol (men)
  Ruaridh McConnochie Bath (men)
  Simon McIntyre Sale (men)
  Stuart Townsend Exeter (men)
  Ivan van Zyl Saracens (men)
  Harry Wells Leicester (men)
  Amy Wilson-Hardy Great Britain 7s (women)

Awards edit

The following players have been recognised at the annual RPA Awards, as voted for by professional players in England, since 2010:[6]

15 Under 23 edit

The following teams represent the 15 Under 23, consisting of the top players in England aged 23 and under, as selected by voters, each year since 2022:[22]

2021–22 2022–23 2023–24
No. Player Team Player Team Player Team
1.   Bevan Rodd Sale   Bevan Rodd Sale   Fin Baxter Harlequins
2.   Nic Dolly Leicester   Theo Dan Saracens   Theo Dan Saracens
3.   Joe Heyes Leicester   Joe Heyes Leicester   Asher Opoku-Fordjour Sale
4.   Nick Isiekwe Saracens   George Martin Leicester   Dafydd Jenkins Exeter
5.   Ollie Chessum Leicester   Hugh Tizard Saracens   Ollie Chessum Leicester
6.   Ben Earl Saracens   Ted Hill Bath   Chandler Cunningham-South Harlequins
7.   Tom Pearson London Irish   Tom Pearson London Irish   Guy Pepper Newcastle
8.   Fitz Harding Bristol   Fitz Harding Bristol   Ross Vintcent Exeter
9.   Harry Randall Bristol   Gus Warr Sale   Jack van Poortvliet Leicester
10.   Marcus Smith Harlequins   Fin Smith Northampton   Fin Smith Northampton
11.   Ollie Hassell-Collins London Irish   Cadan Murley Harlequins   Immanuel Feyi-Waboso Exeter
12.   Dan Kelly Leicester   Seb Atkinson Gloucester   Max Ojomoh Bath
13.   Fraser Dingwall Northampton   Ollie Lawrence Bath   Oscar Beard Harlequins
14.   Louis Rees-Zammit Gloucester   Mateo Carreras Newcastle   Tommy Freeman Northampton
15.   Freddie Steward Leicester   Joe Carpenter Sale   Josh Hodge Exeter

Hall of Fame edit

The following players, coaches, officials, administrators and commentators have been inducted into the RPA Hall of Fame:[23]

See also edit

References edit

  1. ^ "RPA APPOINTED AS EXCLUSIVE COMMERCIAL AND WELFARE REPRESENTATIVES FOR THE RED ROSES". The RPA Website. RPA. Retrieved 25 August 2021.
  2. ^ Hopley continues as players' boss BBC 2006-10-30 Retrieved on 2009-02-13.
  3. ^ "The RPA on Twitter". Twitter. The RPA. Retrieved 15 August 2022.
  4. ^ "Christian Day Elected General Secretary of the RPA". The RPA. The RPA.
  5. ^ "Our Team - The RPA". therpa.co.uk. Rugby Players' Association. Retrieved 30 December 2023.
  6. ^ "The RPA Awards". therpa.co.uk. Rugby Players' Association. Retrieved 30 December 2023.
  7. ^ a b "The RPA Awards 2010". therpa.co.uk. Rugby Players' Association. Retrieved 30 December 2023.
  8. ^ a b "The RPA Awards 2011". therpa.co.uk. Rugby Players' Association. Retrieved 30 December 2023.
  9. ^ a b "The RPA Awards 2012". therpa.co.uk. Rugby Players' Association. Retrieved 30 December 2023.
  10. ^ a b "The RPA Awards 2013". therpa.co.uk. Rugby Players' Association. Retrieved 30 December 2023.
  11. ^ a b "The RPA Awards 2014". therpa.co.uk. Rugby Players' Association. Retrieved 30 December 2023.
  12. ^ a b "The RPA Awards 2015". therpa.co.uk. Rugby Players' Association. Retrieved 30 December 2023.
  13. ^ a b "The RPA Awards 2016". therpa.co.uk. Rugby Players' Association. Retrieved 30 December 2023.
  14. ^ a b "The RPA Awards 2017". therpa.co.uk. Rugby Players' Association. Retrieved 30 December 2023.
  15. ^ a b "The RPA Awards 2018". therpa.co.uk. Rugby Players' Association. Retrieved 30 December 2023.
  16. ^ a b "The RPA Awards 2019". therpa.co.uk. Rugby Players' Association. Retrieved 30 December 2023.
  17. ^ a b "The RPA Awards 2020". therpa.co.uk. Rugby Players' Association. Retrieved 30 December 2023.
  18. ^ a b "The RPA Awards 2021". therpa.co.uk. Rugby Players' Association. Retrieved 30 December 2023.
  19. ^ a b "The RPA Awards 2022". therpa.co.uk. Rugby Players' Association. Retrieved 30 December 2023.
  20. ^ a b "The RPA Awards 2023". therpa.co.uk. Rugby Players' Association. Retrieved 30 December 2023.
  21. ^ a b "The RPA Awards 2024: Winners". therpa.co.uk. Rugby Players' Association. 29 May 2024. Retrieved 29 May 2024.
  22. ^ "RPA 15 Under 23". therpa.co.uk. Rugby Players' Association. Retrieved 30 December 2023.
  23. ^ "RPA Hall of Fame". therpa.co.uk. Rugby Players' Association. Retrieved 30 December 2023.
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