Rugby League Players Association

RLPA

Rugby League Players Association

Founded| 1979
Headquarters| Balmain, New South Wales
Location|

* Australia

Members| 600+

Key people

| Daly Cherry-Evans, General President
Clint Newton, CEO
Website| www.rlpa.com.au

The Rugby League Players Association is a representative organisation based in Australia. The RLPA, as it is more commonly referred to, is the representative body of elite rugby league players, protecting and promoting the welfare and interests of its members.

Formerly the Rugby League Professionals Association, the company changed its name in 2009.

## Structure

[edit]

The RLPA is not a registered union; individual NRL and NRLW players do not pay fees to be part of the association and instead the RLPA's funding is paid for from the players' total share of revenue.[1]

### Leadership

[edit]

Former Newcastle Knights captain Tony Butterfield was appointed RLPA CEO in 2000.[2]

Former Western Reds and Penrith Panthers player Matthew Rodwell was CEO for a brief period up until 2009.[citation needed]

In 2009, David Garnsey took the reins as chief executive officer through until 2015.[3]

In December 2015, former Carlton Football Club player and AFLPA general manager of Player Relations Ian Prendergast was appointed chief executive officer of the RLPA.[4]

In 2017, Australian, Queensland and Melbourne Storm captain Cameron Smith was appointed General President of the RLPA, taking over from Clint Newton who continued with the organisation in the role of general manager of Player Relations.[5]

In 2020, Prendergast departed the RLPA and Newton was appointed chief executive officer.[6]

### RLPA board of directors

[edit]

The current RLPA board of Directors consists of players and industry professionals. The most recent additions were Josh Hodgson, Chelsea Lenarduzzi, Stuart Nelson, and Joanne Taylor during 2022.[7]

* Deidre Anderson (chair)
* Daly Cherry-Evans (General President)
* Clint Newton (CEO and managing director)
* Chelsea Lenarduzzi
* Tim Gordon
* Chad Townsend
* Josh Hodgson
* Hannah Southwell[7]
* Madison Bartlett
* Felise Kaufusi
* Dale Finucane
* Steven Harker AM[7]

## The Players' Champion

[edit]

The Rugby League Players' Association's annual awards ceremony, The Players' Champion, recognises the best player in the National Rugby League as voted by their peers.

Four-time winner of the award Johnathan Thurston, described the Players' Champion as "the highest accolade a player can get."[8]

In 2019, the first Players' Champion accolade was awarded to an NRLW player, with Jessica Sergis taking out the inaugural honour.[9]

### Previous winners

[edit]

| Season  | Player's Champion (NRL)  | Club

|
|

2004 | Danny Buderus |  Newcastle Knights
2005 | Johnathan Thurston |  North Queensland Cowboys
2006 | Ben Kennedy |  Manly Warringah Sea Eagles
2007 | Matt Bowen |  North Queensland Cowboys
2008 | Braith Anasta |  Sydney Roosters
Petero Civoniceva |  Penrith Panthers
2009 | Jarryd Hayne |  Parramatta Eels
2010 | Darius Boyd |  St. George Illawarra Dragons
2011 | Akuila Uate |  Newcastle Knights
2012 | Ben Barba |  Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs
2013 | Johnathan Thurston (2)  |  North Queensland Cowboys
2014 | Johnathan Thurston (3)  |  North Queensland Cowboys
2015 | Johnathan Thurston (4)  |  North Queensland Cowboys
2016 | Jason Taumalolo |  North Queensland Cowboys
2017 | James Tedesco |  Sydney Roosters
2018 | Kalyn Ponga |  Newcastle Knights
2019 | James Tedesco (2)  |  Sydney Roosters
2020 | Nathan Cleary |  Penrith Panthers
2021 | Tom Trbojevic |  Manly Warringah Sea Eagles
2022 | James Tedesco (3)[10] |  Sydney Roosters
| Season  | Player's Champion (NRLW)  | Club

|
|

2019 | Jessica Sergis[11] |  St. George Illawarra Dragons
2020 | Hannah Southwell[12] |  Sydney Roosters
2021 | Emma Tonegato[13][14] |  St. George Illawarra Dragons
2022 | Raecene McGregor[10] |  Sydney Roosters

## Collective Bargaining Agreement

[edit]

In November 2017, the RLPA negotiated a new Collective Bargaining Agreement with the National Rugby League that secured the biggest pay increase for players in the game's 109-year history.[15]

The new CBA deal captures a range of employment related clauses for a five-year period, beginning in 2018 through until 2022.

In a show of unity and solidarity behind the RLPA in the ongoing negotiations, NRL players wore branded caps throughout State of Origin press conferences and green tape in Round 21 of the 2017 season. RLPA CEO Ian Prendergast stated it "was no secret players had become increasingly frustrated" by negotiations. "They want to stand up, use their voice and demonstrate their solidarity across the weekend to get this deal over the line so we can deliver certainty in the industry."[16]

The concluding months of the CBA, and the passage of its deadline in November 2022, saw increasing tensions between the NRL and the RLPA. Although the NRL and RLPA had agreed to an increase in player payments of 37%, with $1.35bn to be designated to players between 2023 and 2027, the two parties were at odds regarding a number of issues regarding working conditions and control of funds, including access to and ownership of personal and medical player data, allocation of funds to the RLPA’s programs, the length of the season, minimum wages, insurance for death and total disability, the ability of players to negotiate with other clubs, payments for international matches, and autonomy over union funding.[17][18]

As part of the standoff, RLPA members covered up the NRL logo on their jerseys during Round 22's matches, refused to speak to the media on game days, released a video titled Stand With Us aimed at garnering support from fans, sent letters to the club chairs and main sponsors of the clubs and the league to complain about the lack of progress in negotiations and asking for support, as well as threatening to delay match kickoff times and boycott the Dally M Awards ceremony.[19][20][21][22]

The standoff ended on 10 August 2023 after the NRL and Rugby League Players Association settled on an in-principle collective bargaining agreement (CBA), with the league’s first billion-dollar CBA, which lasts until 2027 and covers men’s and women’s players, expected to be finalised over the coming days, pending documentation and ratification.[23][24]

## References

[edit]

1. ^ "RLPA Financial Model". RLPA. 20 September 2024. Retrieved 20 September 2024.
2. ^ "RLPA History". RLPA. Retrieved 4 December 2017.
3. ^ "RLPA boss resigns after no confidence vote". Retrieved 4 December 2017.
4. ^ Proszenko, Adrian (1 December 2015). "New RLPA boss Ian Prendergast says he'll make union as strong as AFLPA". Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 4 December 2017.
5. ^ "Cameron Smith". RLPA. Retrieved 4 December 2017.
6. ^ Proszenko, Adrian (20 March 2020). "Clint Newton appointed new player's union boss". The Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 9 December 2020.
7. ^ a b c "Hodgson elected to RLPA Board". RLPA. 23 March 2022. Retrieved 7 September 2022.
8. ^ Callinan, Josh (13 September 2016). "Rugby League Players' Champions Awards | photos, live blog, poll". Newcastle Herald. Retrieved 6 December 2017.
9. ^ "The Players' Champion Awards". 22 November 2023.
10. ^ a b "McGregor and Tedesco the Players' Champions". Rugby League Player's Association. 2 October 2022. Retrieved 4 October 2022.
11. ^ McDonald, Margie (15 October 2019). "Players Champ Sergis on where her aggression comes from". NRL.com. Retrieved 4 October 2022.
12. ^ Churches, Matt (25 October 2020). "Roosters youngster Hannah Southwell voted RLPA NRLW Players' Champion". Nine's Wide World of Sport. Nine Media. Retrieved 4 October 2022.
13. ^ "Tonegato named RLPA Players' Champion". dragons.com.au. 11 April 2022. Retrieved 4 October 2022.
14. ^ "Players crown their Champion". Rugby League Player's Association. 10 April 2022. Retrieved 4 October 2022.
15. ^ "NRL reaches $1 billion peace deal". Retrieved 4 December 2017.
16. ^ "Subscribe to the Daily Telegraph". The Daily Telegraph. Australia. Retrieved 6 December 2017.
17. ^ Danckert a, Sarah; Pengilly, Adam (3 August 2023). "League players ramp up pay deal campaign with pleas to sponsors". The Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 21 August 2023.
18. ^ Samios, Zoe (28 July 2023). "Trouble at the top as two execs ditch NRL players board". Australian Financial Review. Retrieved 21 August 2023.
19. ^ "NRL and players reach pay deal as bitter dispute ends". The Guardian. 10 August 2023. Retrieved 21 August 2023.
20. ^ "REPORT: RLPA CONTEMPLATING DRASTIC NEW STEP IN CBA NEGOTIATIONS". SEN. Retrieved 21 August 2023.
21. ^ Pengilly, Adam (2 August 2023). "NRL players back down on covering logo as future protests planned". The Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 21 August 2023.
22. ^ Pengilly, Adam; Chammas, Michael (24 July 2023). "Dally M boycott threat: NRL stars up the ante in industrial dispute". The Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 21 August 2023.
23. ^ "NRL & RLPA reach CBA agreement". National Rugby League. 10 August 2023. Retrieved 21 August 2023.
24. ^ Nuttall, Daniel (10 August 2023). "Rugby league's civil war set to end after 'done deal' between RLPA and NRL". Fox Sports Australia. News Corp. Retrieved 21 August 2023.

## External links

[edit]

* Rugby League Players Association

* Australia portal
* Organized labour portal

* v
* t
* e

National Rugby League

Teams|

| Current|

* Brisbane Broncos
* Canberra Raiders
* Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs
* Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks
* Dolphins
* Gold Coast Titans
* Manly Warringah Sea Eagles
* Melbourne Storm
* Newcastle Knights
* New Zealand Warriors
* North Queensland Cowboys
* Parramatta Eels
* Penrith Panthers
* South Sydney Rabbitohs
* St. George Illawarra Dragons
* Sydney Roosters
* Wests Tigers

|

Future|

* Perth Bears (2027)
* Papua New Guinea (2028)

Former|

* Balmain Tigers (1908–1999)
* Western Suburbs Magpies (1908–1999)
* North Sydney Bears (1908–1999)
* Newtown Bluebags / Jets (1908–1983)
* Glebe Dirty Reds (1908–1929)
* Newcastle Rebels (1908–1909)
* Cumberland (1908)
* Annandale Dales (1910–1920)
* University (1920–1937)
* St. George Dragons (1921–1998)
* Illawarra Steelers (1982–1998)
* Gold Coast-Tweed Giants / Gold Coast Seagulls / Chargers (1988–1998)
* South Queensland Crushers (1995–1997)
* Western Reds / Perth Reds (1995–1997)
* Adelaide Rams (1997–1998)
* Hunter Mariners (1997)
* Northern Eagles (2000–2002)

Annual events|

* Pre-season
* NRL Nines
* All Stars
* World Club Challenge
* Charity Shield
* Regular season
* Las Vegas
* Good Friday
* Easter Sunday
* Easter Monday
* Anzac Day Cup
* Michael Moore Trophy
* Magic Round
* King's Birthday
* Finals
* Grand Final Breakfast
* State Championship
* Grand Final
* List
* State of Origin

History|

* League history
* NSWRL premiership
* Winfield Cup
* ARL Premiership
* ARL
* Super League
* Super League war
* Seasons
* All time club list
* Expansion
* Premiers
* All First-Class Premiers
* Winning captains and coaches
* Wooden spooners
* Records
* Grand Final
* Most tries in a game
* Golden point games
* Players sent off
* Rivalries
* Referees

Awards and honours|

* Dally M Awards
* Dally M Medal
* Clive Churchill Medal
* Hall of Fame
* The Immortals
* J. J. Giltinan Shield
* Rothmans Medal

Media|

* Friday Night Football
* Fox League
* Sunday Night with Matty Johns
* NRL 360
* The Fan
* Nine's Wide World of Sports
* The Footy Show
* The Sunday Footy Show
* 100% Footy
* Over the Black Dot
* Continuous Call Team
* Monday Night Football on Triple M
* Big League
* Rugby League Review
* Rugby League Week
* Rugby League (video games series)
* NRL SuperCoach
* SuperCoach Finals

Administration|

* Australian Rugby League Commission
* Club owners
* Judiciary
* Salary cap
* Match officials
* Reserves affiliations
* Rugby League Players Association

Related articles|

* Current team squads
* Current head coaches
* Stadiums
* Men of League Foundation
* Women in League
* NRLW Premiership
* Brisbane Rugby League
* Amco Cup
* Tooheys Challenge Cup

* v
* t
* e

NRL Women's Premiership

Teams|

| Current|

* Brisbane Broncos
* Canberra Raiders
* Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks
* Gold Coast Titans
* Newcastle Knights
* North Queensland Cowboys
* Parramatta Eels
* St. George Illawarra Dragons
* Sydney Roosters
* Wests Tigers

|

Future|

* Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs

Former|

* New Zealand Warriors (2018–20)

Seasons|

* 2018
* 2019
* 2020
* 2021
* 2022
* 2023
* 2024
* 2025

Season results|

* 2018
* 2019
* 2020
* 2021
* 2022
* 2023
* 2024
* 2025

Grand Finals|

* 2018
* 2019
* 2020
* 2021
* 2022
* 2023
* 2024
* 2025

Related topics|

* Grounds
* Records
* Current coaches
* Current team squads
* Minor premiers
* Premiers
* Grand final
* List
* Judiciary
* Salary cap
* Match officials
* Rugby League Players Association
* Women's State of Origin
* Women's rugby league in Australia

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