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International Rugby Players is the global representative body on issues of importance to professional Rugby players.
By Representing, Supporting and Unifying players, we serve them in areas such as:
National Rugby Player Associations from across the globe are members of International Rugby Players.
Our membership is currently made up of the national Professional Rugby Players’ Associations from each of South Africa, England, Australia, Ireland, Wales, France, and New Zealand. All member Associations have representation on the International Rugby Players Board, which has monthly meetings by conference call and at least six-monthly conferences in person.
While other nations are currently in the process of setting up associations, Countries without established player associations are represented by their Player Council representative, which is made up of men’s and women’s players across all major rugby competitions in both the 15’s and 7’s game.
Chairman
Patrick was the Chief Executive Officer of Zurich Insurance plc – the carrier for Zurich’s pan-European general insurance business, based in Dublin, Ireland. He also served as the Chief Administrative Officer of Zurich in EMEA.
Patrick is an experienced Executive and Non-Executive Director, having served on various Boards across Europe, Middle East and Africa.
The Tipperary native joined the International Rugby Players board as independent chairman in 2018.
Vice-Chairman
A graduate of St Andrews and Cambridge University, Damian played for Wasps and England but was forced to retire from professional rugby in 1998 after a series of knee operations.
The lack of support available to professional players led Damian to found the RPA later that same year. Damian is also the current Vice-Chairman of International Rugby Players.
Board Member
Eugene Henning is the CEO of My Players, South Africa’s Player Association and has been a board member since mid-2018.
He is an admitted attorney and obtained his BCom, LLB and MBA degrees from the University of Stellenbosch, South Africa. After he practiced as an attorney, he worked as a Legal Advisor for Bidvest in the United Kingdom. Upon his return to SA, he worked as a Legal Advisor in the financial services industry before he joined the board of MyPlayers in 2010.
At MyPlayers, Eugene is responsible for overseeing and directing all operations of the players’ organisation and managing the collective intellectual property rights of the South African professional rugby players.
Board Member
CEO of the New Zealand Players Association (NZRPA), Rob Nichol was the first head of the International Players’ body, then called IRPA, which was based in Auckland.
Rob has been to the forefront of the players’ dealings with World Rugby and has worked on many major aspects of the game, including the Global season structure 2020-2032.
Board Member
Former British & Irish Lions and Ireland captain Brian O’Driscoll joined the board of International Rugby Players in January 2020.
One of the most capped international players in the game with 141 test appearances, Brian brings a wealth of experience from both on and off the pitch. Upon joining, he said: “It’s clear to me that rugby needs to change in order to properly grow and players need to be at the forefront of shaping this.”
Board Member
Former Tongan international and Pacific Rugby Players founder Hale T-Pole also joined the board of International Rugby Players in January 2020.
The back-rower who played club rugby all over the world, has great experience helping Pacific Players based in the Islands and across the world with various issues and has lobbied strongly for greater opportunities for all Tier Two teams.
Chief Executive Officer
Omar Hassanein
omar@rugbyplayers.org
Head of Communications
Eoin McHugh
eoin@rugbyplayers.org
Head of Player Welfare
Conrad Smith
conrad@rugbyplayers.org
Head of Legal
David Quinlan
david@rugbyplayers.org
Head of Women’s Rugby
Rachael Burford
rachael@rugbyplayers.org
Head of Strategic Projects and Research
Sene Naoupu
sene@rugbyplayers.org
International Rugby Players, Unit 8, Richview Office Park Clonskeagh, Dublin 14, Ireland.
Telephone: +353 1 676 9680
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