England Rugby Players Split From Rpa
The England men’s rugby union team has voted to end its longstanding relationship with the Rugby Players Association (RPA).
The trade union has represented the commercial negotiations of Team England LLP since 2004, including the team’s Elite Player Squad (EPS) contracts, image rights payments and bonuses.
However, as first reported by Telegraph Sport, that arrangement will cease in June 2024 and the team will instead be represented by a new agency headed up by Gaia Bursell, who led the partnership between the team and the RPA for five years until March 2023.
RPA Statement on Team England LLP#ForOurPlayers pic.twitter.com/zn4eZi9n0a
— The RPA (@theRPA) January 3, 2024
It is thought Bursell will also take the lead on negotiating the Rugby Football Union’s new ‘hybrid’ contracts, which have been put forward as part of the national governing bodies new Professional Game Partnership (PGP), a series of proposals which aims to revitalise the sport of rugby in England.
In a statement, the RPA said, ‘The RPA are disappointed to announce that Team England LLP have chosen to end the RPA’s status as exclusive commercial representatives at the end of the current EPS agreement in June 2024,
‘The RPA have proudly represented the England Men’s squad since 2004, consistently positioning them as the best rewarded in global rugby union.
‘We will continue to support, promote, and protect all elite players in the English game via RPA representation, including those selected to play for the England Men’s side. A current EPS men’s representative has placed on record that the squad give the RPA their full backing in supporting players across the English game.’
Despite the split, the players involved in the England national setup will continue to be represented by the RPA for matters involving their clubs and other matters that do not relate to the national team.
