Rugby Players' Association
{{Short description|English trade union}}
The Rugby Players' Association (RPA) is a trade union representing elite rugby rugby union players in England. The RPA is the representative body and collective voice of elite rugby players in England and represents more than 600 male and female current rugby players, as well as more than 100 former players.{{cite web |title=The RPA |url=https://therpa.co.uk |website=therpa.co.uk |publisher=The RPA |access-date=6 January 2025}}
Overview
{{More citations needed|date=February 2024}}
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 was founded by professional player Damian Hopley, who was forced to early retirement after an injury.[http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/rugby_union/english/6098798.stm Hopley continues as players' boss] BBC 2006-10-30 Retrieved on 2009-02-13.
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.{{cite web |title=The RPA on Twitter |url=https://twitter.com/theRPA/status/1559240584832901127 |website=Twitter |publisher=The RPA |access-date=15 August 2022}}
On 16 January 2023, it was announced that Christian Day, was elected the new General Secretary of the RPA, following an election to the membership.{{cite web |title=Christian Day Elected General Secretary of the RPA |url=https://therpa.co.uk/news/2023/1/christian-day-elected-general-secretary-of-the-rpa/ |website=The RPA }}
In September 2024, the RPA released its' first ever Impact Report.{{cite web |title=RPA Impact Report 2023/24 |url=https://therpa.co.uk/rpa-impact-report/ |website=The RPA |publisher=The RPA |access-date=6 January 2025}} It showcased impact of the work that we have delivered for the rugby eco-system in support of our members.
Current board
The following rugby union professionals playing in England make up the current RPA Players' Board, as of the 2024-25 season.{{cite web |title=Our Team |url=https://therpa.co.uk/our-team/ |website=therpa.co.uk |publisher=The RPA |access-date=19 November 2024 |ref=Our Team}}
| class="wikitable" |
| width=120| Role
!width=200| Player !width=160| Team |
|---|
| align=center| Chair
| {{flagicon|SCO}} Ruaridh McConnonchie | Bath Rugby (men) |
| align=center| Vice-chair
| {{flagicon|ENG}} Freddie Clarke | Gloucester Rugby (men) |
| align=center rowspan=11| Board Member
| {{flagicon|ENG}} Sarah Bern |
| {{flagicon|ENG|rugby union}} Brett Connon
| Newcastle Falcons (men) |
| {{flagicon|ENG}} Heather Cowell
| Great Britain 7s (women) |
| {{flagicon|ENG}} Tom Emery
| Great Britain 7s (men) |
| {{flagicon|ENG}} Will Evans
| Harlequins (men) |
| {{flagicon|ENG}} Emmanuel Iyogun
| Northampton Saints (men) |
| {{flagicon|ENG}} Max Lahiff
| Bristol Bears (men) |
| {{flagicon|ENG}} Simon McIntyre
| Sale Sharks (men) |
| {{flagicon|ENG}} Stuart Townsend
| Exeter Chiefs (men) |
| {{flagicon|RSA}} Ivan van Zyl
| Saracens (men) |
| {{flagicon|ENG}} Harry Wells
| Leicester Tigers (men) |
Awards
The following have been recognised at the annual RPA Awards, as voted on by professional rugby union players in England, since 2010:{{cite web | url=https://therpa.co.uk/rpa-awards/ | title=The RPA Awards | website=therpa.co.uk | publisher=Rugby Players' Association | access-date=30 December 2023 | language=en-UK}}
{{col-begin}}
{{col-break}}
| class="wikitable"
|+ Players' Player of the Year |
| width=50| Year
!width=180| Player !width=120| Team !width=30| {{abbr|Ref|Reference}} |
|---|
| align=center| 2010
| {{flagicon|RSA}} Schalk Brits | Saracens |
| align=center| 2011
| {{flagicon|ENG}} Thomas Waldrom |
| align=center| 2012
| {{flagicon|NZL}} Nick Evans |
| align=center| 2013
| {{flagicon|ENG}} Christian Wade | Wasps |
| align=center| 2014
| {{flagicon|FIJ}} Vereniki Goneva |
| align=center| 2015
| {{flagicon|ENG}} Jonathan Joseph | Bath |
| align=center| 2016
| {{flagicon|AUS}} George Smith | Wasps |
| align=center| 2017
| {{flagicon|NZL}} Jimmy Gopperth | Wasps |
| align=center| 2018
| {{flagicon|TON}} Telusa Veainu |
| align=center| 2019
| {{flagicon|ENG}} Danny Cipriani |
| align=center| 2020
| {{flagicon|ENG}} Jack Willis | Wasps |
| align=center| 2021
| {{flagicon|ENG}} Sam Simmonds | Exeter |
| align=center| 2022
| {{flagicon|RSA}} André Esterhuizen |
| align=center| 2023
| {{flagicon|RSA}} Jasper Wiese |
| align=center| 2024
| {{flagicon|ENG}} Fin Smith |
{{col-break}}
| class="wikitable"
|+ Young Player of the Year |
| width=50| Year
!width=180| Player !width=120| Team !width=30| {{abbr|Ref|Reference}} |
|---|
| align=center| 2010
| {{flagicon|ENG}} Ben Youngs |
| align=center| 2011
| {{flagicon|ENG}} Manu Tuilagi |
| align=center| 2012
| {{flagicon|ENG}} Owen Farrell | Saracens |
| align=center| 2013
| {{flagicon|ENG}} Christian Wade | Wasps |
| align=center| 2014
| {{flagicon|ENG}} George Ford | Bath |
| align=center| 2015
| {{flagicon|ENG}} Henry Slade | Exeter |
| align=center| 2016
| {{flagicon|ENG}} Maro Itoje | Saracens |
| align=center| 2017
| {{flagicon|ENG}} Zach Mercer | Bath |
| align=center| 2018
| {{flagicon|ENG}} Marcus Smith |
| align=center| 2019
| {{flagicon|ENG}} Ollie Thorley |
| align=center| 2020
| {{flagicon|WAL}} Louis Rees-Zammit |
| align=center| 2021
| {{flagicon|ENG}} Marcus Smith |
| align=center| 2022
| {{flagicon|ENG}} Freddie Steward |
| align=center| 2023
| {{flagicon|ENG}} Tom Pearson |
| align=center| 2024
| {{flagicon|ENG}} Immanuel Feyi-Waboso | Exeter |
{{col-end}}
{{col-begin}}
{{col-break}}
| class="wikitable"
|+ England 15s Player of the Year |
| width=50| Year
!width=150| Men !width=150| Women !width=30| {{abbr|Ref|Reference}} |
|---|
| align=center| 2013 |
| align=center| 2014 |
| align=center| 2015 |
| align=center| 2016 |
| align=center| 2017 |
| align=center| 2018 |
| align=center| 2019 |
| align=center| 2020 |
| align=center| 2021
| Tom Curry (2) |
| align=center| 2022 |
| align=center| 2023
| Freddie Steward (2) |
| align=center| 2024
| Ben Earl |
{{col-break}}
| class="wikitable"
|+ England 7s Player of the Year |
| width=50| Year
!width=150| Men !width=150| Women !width=30| {{abbr|Ref|Reference}} |
|---|
| align=center| 2012
|rowspan=6 align=center| Not awarded |
| align=center| 2013 |
| align=center| 2014 |
| align=center| 2015 |
| align=center| 2016 |
| align=center| 2017 |
| align=center| 2018 |
| align=center| 2019
| Alex Matthews (2) |
| align=center| 2020 |
{{col-end}}
{{col-begin}}
{{col-break}}
| class="wikitable"
|+ Special Merit Award (2010–15) |
| width=30| Year
!width=170| Player !width=115| Team !width=20| {{abbr|Ref|Reference}} |
|---|
| align=center| 2010
| {{flagicon|ENG}} Simon Shaw | Wasps |
| align=center| 2011
| {{flagicon|ENG}} Danny Grewcock | Bath |
| align=center| 2012
| {{flagicon|ENG}} Hugh Vyvyan | Saracens |
| align=center| 2013
| {{flagicon|IRE|rugby union}} Geordan Murphy |
| align=center| 2014
| {{flagicon|ENG}} Steve Borthwick | Saracens |
| align=center| 2015
| {{flagicon|ENG}} Mark Cueto | Sale |
{{col-break}}
| class="wikitable"
|+ Special Merit Award (2016–21) |
| width=30| Year
!width=170| Player !width=115| Team !width=20| {{abbr|Ref|Reference}} |
|---|
| align=center| 2016
| {{flagicon|ENG}} Charlie Hodgson | Saracens |
| align=center| 2017
| {{flagicon|ENG}} Nick Easter |
| align=center| 2018
| {{flagicon|SCO}} Ian Robertson |rowspan=2| Not applicable |
| align=center| 2019
| {{flagicon|ENG}} Mathew Tait |
| align=center| 2020
| {{flagicon|ENG}} Richard Wigglesworth | Saracens |
| align=center| 2021
| {{flagicon|ENG}} Ben Youngs |
{{col-break}}
| class="wikitable"
|+ Special Merit Award (2022–) |
| width=30| Year
!width=170| Player !width=115| Team !width=20| {{abbr|Ref|Reference}} |
|---|
| align=center| 2022
| {{flagicon|ENG}} Danny Care |
| align=center rowspan=3| 2023
| {{flagicon|ENG}} Dan Cole |
| {{flagicon|ENG}} Owen Farrell
| Saracens |
| {{flagicon|ENG}} Emily Scarratt
| Loughborough (W) |
| align=center rowspan=2| 2024
| {{flagicon|ENG}} Marlie Packer |
| {{flagicon|ENG}} Alex Waller |
{{col-end}}
= 15 Under 23 =
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:{{cite web | url=https://therpa.co.uk/15-under-23/ | title=RPA 15 Under 23 | website=therpa.co.uk | publisher=Rugby Players' Association | access-date=30 December 2023 | language=en-UK}}
| class="wikitable" |
| colspan=1|
!colspan=2| 2021–22 !colspan=2| 2022–23 !colspan=2| 2023–24 |
|---|
| width=25| {{abbr|No.|Number}}
!width=210| Player !width=85| Team !width=210| Player !width=85| Team !width=210| Player !width=85| Team |
| align=center| 1.
| {{flagicon|ENG}} Bevan Rodd | Sale | {{flagicon|ENG}} Bevan Rodd | Sale | {{flagicon|ENG}} Fin Baxter |
| align=center| 2.
| {{flagicon|ENG}} Nic Dolly | {{flagicon|ENG}} Theo Dan | Saracens | {{flagicon|ENG}} Theo Dan | Saracens |
| align=center| 3.
| {{flagicon|ENG}} Joe Heyes | {{flagicon|ENG}} Joe Heyes | {{flagicon|ENG}} Asher Opoku-Fordjour | Sale |
| align=center| 4.
| {{flagicon|ENG}} Nick Isiekwe | Saracens | {{flagicon|ENG}} George Martin | {{flagicon|WAL}} Dafydd Jenkins | Exeter |
| align=center| 5.
| {{flagicon|ENG}} Ollie Chessum | {{flagicon|ENG}} Hugh Tizard | Saracens | {{flagicon|ENG}} Ollie Chessum |
| align=center| 6.
| {{flagicon|ENG}} Ben Earl | Saracens | {{flagicon|ENG}} Ted Hill | Bath | {{flagicon|ENG}} Chandler Cunningham-South |
| align=center| 7.
| {{flagicon|ENG}} Tom Pearson | {{flagicon|ENG}} Tom Pearson | {{flagicon|ENG}} Guy Pepper |
| align=center| 8.
| {{flagicon|ENG}} Fitz Harding | Bristol | {{flagicon|ENG}} Fitz Harding | Bristol | {{flagicon|ITA}} Ross Vintcent | Exeter |
| align=center| 9.
| {{flagicon|ENG}} Harry Randall | Bristol | {{flagicon|SCO}} Gus Warr | Sale | {{flagicon|ENG}} Jack van Poortvliet |
| align=center| 10.
| {{flagicon|ENG}} Marcus Smith | {{flagicon|ENG}} Fin Smith | {{flagicon|ENG}} Fin Smith |
| align=center| 11.
| {{flagicon|ENG}} Ollie Hassell-Collins | {{flagicon|ENG}} Cadan Murley | {{flagicon|ENG}} Immanuel Feyi-Waboso | Exeter |
| align=center| 12.
| {{flagicon|ENG}} Dan Kelly | {{flagicon|ENG}} Seb Atkinson | {{flagicon|ENG}} Max Ojomoh | Bath |
| align=center| 13.
| {{flagicon|ENG}} Fraser Dingwall | {{flagicon|ENG}} Ollie Lawrence | Bath | {{flagicon|ENG}} Oscar Beard |
| align=center| 14.
| {{flagicon|WAL}} Louis Rees-Zammit | {{flagicon|ARG}} Mateo Carreras | {{flagicon|ENG}} Tommy Freeman |
| align=center| 15.
| {{flagicon|ENG}} Freddie Steward | {{flagicon|ENG}} Joe Carpenter | Sale | {{flagicon|ENG}} Josh Hodge | Exeter |
Hall of Fame
The following players, coaches, officials, administrators and commentators have been inducted into the RPA Hall of Fame:{{cite web | url=https://therpa.co.uk/rpa-awards/upcoming-awards/rpa-hall-of-fame/ | title=RPA Hall of Fame | website=therpa.co.uk | publisher=Rugby Players' Association | access-date=30 December 2023 | language=en-UK}}
{{col-begin}}
{{col-break}}
| class="wikitable" |
| width=50| Year
!width=160| Inductee |
|---|
| align=center| 1999
| {{flagicon|AUS}} Michael Lynagh |
| align=center rowspan=2| 2000
| {{flagicon|WAL}} Cliff Morgan |
| {{flagicon|ENG}} Peter Winterbottom |
| align=center rowspan=2| 2001
| {{flagicon|IRE|rugby union}} Willie John McBride |
| {{flagicon|FRA}} Philippe Sella |
| align=center rowspan=2| 2002
| {{flagicon|ENG}} Dean Richards |
| {{flagicon|SCO}} John Rutherford |
| align=center rowspan=3| 2003
| {{flagicon|WAL}} Gerald Davies |
| {{flagicon|AUS}} Tim Horan |
| {{flagicon|ENG}} Peter Wheeler |
{{col-break}}
| class="wikitable" |
| width=50| Year
!width=160| Inductee |
|---|
| align=center rowspan=2| 2004
| {{flagicon|NZL}} Zinzan Brooke |
| {{flagicon|SCO}} Gavin Hastings |
| align=center rowspan=2| 2005
| {{flagicon|WAL}} Sir Gareth Edwards |
| {{flagicon|NZL}} Sean Fitzpatrick |
| align=center rowspan=3| 2006
| {{flagicon|ENG}} David Duckham |
| {{flagicon|IRE|rugby union}} Mike Gibson |
| {{flagicon|SCO}} Sir Ian McGeechan |
| align=center| 2007
| {{flagicon|ENG}} Martin Johnson |
| align=center rowspan=2| 2008
| {{flagicon|ENG}} Richard Hill |
| {{flagicon|ENG}} Jason Leonard |
{{col-break}}
| class="wikitable" |
| width=50| Year
!width=160| Inductee |
|---|
| align=center rowspan=2| 2009
| {{flagicon|ENG}} Fran Cotton |
| {{flagicon|ENG}} Jeremy Guscott |
| align=center| 2010
| {{flagicon|SCO}} Bill McLaren |
| align=center| 2011
| {{flagicon|ENG}} Lawrence Dallaglio |
| align=center| 2012
| {{flagicon|ENG}} Jason Robinson |
| align=center| 2013
| {{flagicon|WAL}} Ieuan Evans |
| align=center| 2014
| {{flagicon|WAL}} Jonathan Davies |
| align=center| 2015
| {{flagicon|ENG}} Jonny Wilkinson |
| align=center| 2016
| {{flagicon|IRE|rugby union}} Brian O'Driscoll |
| align=center| 2017
| {{flagicon|NZL}} Dan Carter |
{{col-break}}
| class="wikitable" |
| width=50| Year
!width=160| Inductee |
|---|
| align=center| 2018
| {{flagicon|ENG}} Sir Clive Woodward |
| align=center| 2020
| {{flagicon|ENG}} Sir Bill Beaumont |
| align=center rowspan=2| 2021
| {{flagicon|ENG}} Rocky Clark |
| {{flagicon|WAL}} Alun Wyn Jones |
| align=center| 2022
| {{flagicon|ENG}} Katy Daley-McLean |
| align=center rowspan=2| 2023
| {{flagicon|ENG}} Sarah Hunter |
| {{flagicon|SCO}} Doddie Weir |
| align=center| 2024
| {{flagicon|ENG}} Courtney Lawes |
{{col-end}}
See also
- Rugby Union Players Association, Australian national association for players' interests formed in October 1995
- Rugby Players Ireland, Irish national association for players' interests formed in October 2001
- Welsh Rugby Players Association, Welsh national association for players' interests formed in 2003