Rugby Players' Association

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

Awards[edit]

The following players have been recognised at the annual RPA Awards, as voted for by professional players in England, since 2010:[5]

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 RPA representatives, each year since 2022:[20]

2021–22 2022–23
No. Player Team Player Team
1. England Bevan Rodd Sale England Bevan Rodd Sale
2. England Nic Dolly Leicester England Theo Dan Saracens
3. England Joe Heyes Leicester England Joe Heyes Leicester
4. England Nick Isiekwe Saracens England George Martin Leicester
5. England Ollie Chessum Leicester England Hugh Tizard Saracens
6. England Ben Earl Saracens England Ted Hill Bath
7. England Tom Pearson London Irish England Tom Pearson London Irish
8. England Fitz Harding Bristol England Fitz Harding Bristol
9. England Harry Randall Bristol England Gus Warr Sale
10. England Marcus Smith Harlequins England Fin Smith Northampton
11. England Ollie Hassell-Collins London Irish England Cadan Murley Harlequins
12. England Dan Kelly Leicester England Seb Atkinson Gloucester
13. England Fraser Dingwall Northampton England Ollie Lawrence Bath
14. Wales Louis Rees-Zammit Gloucester Argentina Mateo Carreras Newcastle
15. England Freddie Steward Leicester England Joe Carpenter Sale

Hall of Fame[edit]

The following players, coaches, officials, administrators and commentators have been inducted into the RPA Hall of Fame:[21]

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. ^ "The RPA Awards". therpa.co.uk. Rugby Players' Association. Retrieved 30 December 2023.
  6. ^ a b "The RPA Awards 2010". therpa.co.uk. Rugby Players' Association. Retrieved 30 December 2023.
  7. ^ a b "The RPA Awards 2011". therpa.co.uk. Rugby Players' Association. Retrieved 30 December 2023.
  8. ^ a b "The RPA Awards 2012". therpa.co.uk. Rugby Players' Association. Retrieved 30 December 2023.
  9. ^ a b "The RPA Awards 2013". therpa.co.uk. Rugby Players' Association. Retrieved 30 December 2023.
  10. ^ a b "The RPA Awards 2014". therpa.co.uk. Rugby Players' Association. Retrieved 30 December 2023.
  11. ^ a b "The RPA Awards 2015". therpa.co.uk. Rugby Players' Association. Retrieved 30 December 2023.
  12. ^ a b "The RPA Awards 2016". therpa.co.uk. Rugby Players' Association. Retrieved 30 December 2023.
  13. ^ a b "The RPA Awards 2017". therpa.co.uk. Rugby Players' Association. Retrieved 30 December 2023.
  14. ^ a b "The RPA Awards 2018". therpa.co.uk. Rugby Players' Association. Retrieved 30 December 2023.
  15. ^ a b "The RPA Awards 2019". therpa.co.uk. Rugby Players' Association. Retrieved 30 December 2023.
  16. ^ a b "The RPA Awards 2020". therpa.co.uk. Rugby Players' Association. Retrieved 30 December 2023.
  17. ^ a b "The RPA Awards 2021". therpa.co.uk. Rugby Players' Association. Retrieved 30 December 2023.
  18. ^ a b "The RPA Awards 2022". therpa.co.uk. Rugby Players' Association. Retrieved 30 December 2023.
  19. ^ a b "The RPA Awards 2023". therpa.co.uk. Rugby Players' Association. Retrieved 30 December 2023.
  20. ^ "RPA 15 Under 23". therpa.co.uk. Rugby Players' Association. Retrieved 30 December 2023.
  21. ^ "RPA Hall of Fame". therpa.co.uk. Rugby Players' Association. Retrieved 30 December 2023.
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