Supporting Players

Career/ Personal Development

Within the International Rugby Player network, we work hard to ensure players are engaged, well balanced and organised in all spheres of life.

Players can contact our network of Player Development Managers (PDMs) in the relevant countries below:

1. Australia: Matthew Smith – matthew.smith@redsrugby.com.au
2. England: Ben McGregor – BMcGregor@theRPA.co.uk
3. Ireland: Deirdre Lyons – deirdre@rugbyplayersireland.ie
4. New Zealand: Emily Downes – Emily.downes@nzrpa.co.nz
5. Pacific Islands: Aayden Clarke – aclarke@pacificrugbyplayers.com
6. South Africa: Hilana Classens – hilana@my-players.com
7. Wales: Dan Owens – dan.owens@wrpa.co.uk

Mental Wellbeing

A key principle for International Rugby Players and its member associations across the world is prioritising the players’ physical and mental welfare and personal development both on and off the field.

To help drive this, we ensure there is adequate player representation on working groups or at forums where these issues are discussed. The key message and culture change that we drive stems from our belief that the mental health and wellbeing of a professional athlete is just as important as their physical fitness.

Injury & Illness

International Rugby Players represents players in a range of World Rugby working groups – many of them dealing with areas around the players’ overall physical welfare. Our representation includes having a seat on the Concussion Head Injury Assessment (H.I.A) working group with World Rugby, as well as groups relating to player training and playing load.

International Rugby Players also supports professionals, academics and universities in the advancement of scientific knowledge within the game. We help bridge the gap between scientific theory and professional practice through our input into the decision-making processes.

Player Safety & Security

Professional players often find themselves living a very public life. International Rugby Players and our member associations across the world provide strategies and advice that helps protect players’ privacy, recognise their right to express views and opinions and keep them informed on their professional responsibilities within the game.

We also work with unions and governing bodies to implement strategies to protect their safety and security.

Anti-Doping & WADA Code

International Rugby Players takes a strong position in ensuring not only that doping is outlawed from our sport to uphold its character and integrity, but also in ensuring that players’ rights are protected in this regard. Equally we work with our global counterparts in other sports to ensure that anti-doping codes are relevant to ensuring a fair and just environment for our athletes to participate in.

Management of Player Agents

International Rugby Players is working with World Rugby to develop a Global Agent Accreditation scheme.

This will be embedded in World Rugby regulations so that unions and clubs would only be able to deal with registered rugby agents.

This will be important in order to help developing rugby nations, particularly in unregulated environments. We need to protect players, as well as the health and image of rugby, as instances of players being unfairly treated by agents is on the rise. Young players from developing nations can be targets, often by agents who are either uneducated, conflicted or incompetent.

Insurances

International Rugby Players works to ensure that all players are afforded the maximum protection required to compete in such a high-contact sport.

We work with World Rugby, as well as other stakeholders in the game, on the area of insurance to ensure that players are never caught without the required protection, particularly when moving from one jurisdiction to another.