{{EngvarB|date=June 2018}} {{Use dmy dates|date=June 2018}} {{Infobox organization | name = RLPA | location = Australia | num_members = 600+ | full_name = Rugby League Players Association | native_name = | image = RLPA-logo---POS.png | founded = 1979 | dissolved = | merged_into = | headquarters = Balmain, New South Wales | key_people = Felise Kaufusi, General President<br>Clint Newton, CEO | website = [http://rlpa.com.au www.rlpa.com.au] | footnotes = }}
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== 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.<ref>{{cite web |title=RLPA Financial Model |url=https://www.rlpa.com.au/about-the-rlpa/#financial-model |website=RLPA |date=20 September 2024 |access-date=20 September 2024}}</ref>
===Leadership=== Former Newcastle Knights captain Tony Butterfield was appointed RLPA CEO in 2000.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.rlpa.com.au/rlpa-history/|title=RLPA History |work=RLPA|access-date=4 December 2017}}</ref>
Former Western Reds and Penrith Panthers player Matthew Rodwell was CEO for a brief period up until 2009.{{citation needed|date=October 2017}}<!-- WP:RS needed; removed link to WP-->
In 2009, David Garnsey took the reins as chief executive officer through until 2015.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/sport/nrl/rugby-league-players-association-ceo-david-garnsey-resigns-after-vote-of-no-confidence/news-story/b6cb1b9a06c3c4ec8f97b42abcf65910|title=RLPA boss resigns after no confidence vote|access-date=4 December 2017}}</ref>
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.<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://www.smh.com.au/rugby-league/league-news/new-rlpa-boss-ian-prendergast-says-hell-make-union-as-strong-as-aflpa-20151201-glcq96.html|title=New RLPA boss Ian Prendergast says he'll make union as strong as AFLPA|last=Proszenko|first=Adrian|date=1 December 2015|work=Sydney Morning Herald|access-date=4 December 2017}}</ref>
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.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.rlpa.com.au/profiles/cameron-smith/|title=Cameron Smith |work=RLPA|access-date=4 December 2017}}</ref>
In 2020, Prendergast departed the RLPA and Newton was appointed chief executive officer.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Proszenko|first=Adrian|date=2020-03-20|title=Clint Newton appointed new player's union boss|url=https://www.smh.com.au/sport/nrl/clint-newton-appointed-new-player-s-union-boss-20200320-p54cb4.html|access-date=2020-12-09|website=The Sydney Morning Herald|language=en}}</ref>
=== RLPA board of directors === 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.<ref name="Hodgson elected to RLPA Board">{{Cite web|date=2022-03-23|title=Hodgson elected to RLPA Board|url=https://www.rlpa.com.au/josh-hodgson-rlpa-board-election/|access-date=2022-09-07|website=RLPA|language=en-AU}}</ref> * Deidre Anderson (chair) * Daly Cherry-Evans (General President) * Clint Newton (CEO and managing director) * Chelsea Lenarduzzi * [https://www.rlpa.com.au/rlpa-board/ Tim Gordon] *Chad Townsend *Josh Hodgson *Hannah Southwell<ref name="Hodgson elected to RLPA Board"/> * [https://www.rlpa.com.au/news/madison-bartlett-joins-rlpa-board-as-player-director/ Madison Bartlett] *Felise Kaufusi *Dale Finucane * Steven Harker AM<ref name="Hodgson elected to RLPA Board"/>
== The Players' Champion == 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."<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.newcastleherald.com.au/story/4161817/rugby-league-players-champions-awards-photos-live-blog-poll/|title=Rugby League Players' Champions Awards {{!}} photos, live blog, poll|last=Callinan|first=Josh|date=13 September 2016|work=Newcastle Herald|access-date=6 December 2017}}</ref>
In 2019, the first Players' Champion accolade was awarded to an NRLW player, with Jessica Sergis taking out the inaugural honour.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.rlpa.com.au/players-champion-rlpa-awards/ | title=The Players' Champion Awards | date=22 November 2023 }}</ref>
=== Previous winners === {{Col-begin}} {{Col-2}} {| class="wikitable" style="text-align:left;" |+ ! width="50" |Season ! width="180" |Player's Champion (NRL) ! width="250" |Club |- ! 2004 | {{sortname|Danny|Buderus}} | {{leagueicon|Newcastle|16}} Newcastle Knights |- ! 2005 | {{sortname|Johnathan|Thurston}} | {{leagueicon|North Queensland|16}} North Queensland Cowboys |- ! 2006 | {{sortname|Ben|Kennedy|dab=rugby league}} | {{leagueicon|Manly|16}} Manly Warringah Sea Eagles |- ! 2007 | {{sortname|Matt|Bowen}} | {{leagueicon|North Queensland|16}} North Queensland Cowboys |- ! rowspan=2|2008 | {{sortname|Braith|Anasta}} | {{leagueicon|Easts|16}} Sydney Roosters |- | {{sortname|Petero|Civoniceva}} | {{leagueicon|Penrith|16}} Penrith Panthers |- ! 2009 | {{sortname|Jarryd|Hayne}} | {{leagueicon|Parramatta|16}} Parramatta Eels |- ! 2010 | {{sortname|Darius|Boyd}} | {{leagueicon|St George|16}} St. George Illawarra Dragons |- ! 2011 | {{sortname|Akuila|Uate}} | {{leagueicon|Newcastle|16}} Newcastle Knights |- ! 2012 | {{sortname|Ben|Barba}} | {{leagueicon|Canterbury|16}} Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs |- ! 2013 | {{sortname|Johnathan|Thurston}} (2) | {{leagueicon|North Queensland|16}} North Queensland Cowboys |- ! 2014 | {{sortname|Johnathan|Thurston}} (3) | {{leagueicon|North Queensland|16}} North Queensland Cowboys |- ! 2015 | {{sortname|Johnathan|Thurston}} (4) | {{leagueicon|North Queensland|16}} North Queensland Cowboys |- ! 2016 | {{sortname|Jason|Taumalolo}} | {{leagueicon|North Queensland|16}} North Queensland Cowboys |- ! 2017 | {{sortname|James|Tedesco}} | {{leagueicon|Easts|16}} Sydney Roosters |- ! 2018 | {{sortname|Kalyn|Ponga}} | {{leagueicon|Newcastle|16}} Newcastle Knights |- ! 2019 | {{sortname|James|Tedesco}} (2) | {{leagueicon|Easts|16}} Sydney Roosters |- ! 2020 | {{sortname|Nathan|Cleary}} | {{leagueicon|Penrith|16}} Penrith Panthers |- ! 2021 | {{sortname|Tom|Trbojevic}} | {{leagueicon|Manly|16}} Manly Warringah Sea Eagles |- ! 2022 | {{sortname|James|Tedesco}} (3)<ref name=2022award>{{cite web |title=McGregor and Tedesco the Players' Champions |url=https://www.rlpa.com.au/2022-players-champion-tedesco-mcgregor/ |website=Rugby League Player's Association |date=2 October 2022 |access-date=4 October 2022}}</ref> | {{leagueicon|Easts|16}} Sydney Roosters |- ! 2023 | {{sortname|Shaun|Johnson}} | {{leagueicon|Auckland|16}} New Zealand Warriors |- ! 2024 | {{sortname|Jahrome|Hughes}} | {{leagueicon|Melbourne|16}} Melbourne Storm |- ! 2025 | {{sortname|James|Tedesco}} (4) | {{leagueicon|Easts|16}} Sydney Roosters |- |} {{Col-2}} {| class="wikitable" style="text-align:left;" |+ ! width="50" |Season ! width="180" |Player's Champion (NRLW) ! width="250" |Club |- ! 2019 | {{sortname|Jessica|Sergis}}<ref>{{cite web |last1=McDonald |first1=Margie |title=Players Champ Sergis on where her aggression comes from |url=https://www.nrl.com/news/2019/10/15/players-champ-sergis-on-where-her-aggression-comes-from/ |website=NRL.com |access-date=4 October 2022 |date=15 October 2019}}</ref> | {{leagueicon|St George|16}} St. George Illawarra Dragons |- ! 2020 | {{sortname|Hannah|Southwell}}<ref>{{cite web |last1=Churches |first1=Matt |title=Roosters youngster Hannah Southwell voted RLPA NRLW Players' Champion |url=https://wwos.nine.com.au/nrl/roosters-hannah-southwell-voted-rlpa-nrlw-players-champion/5cab1cb4-370a-4276-a33e-5a5a2c4f1df6 |website=Nine's Wide World of Sport |publisher=Nine Media |access-date=4 October 2022 |date=25 October 2020}}</ref> | {{leagueicon|Easts|16}} Sydney Roosters |- ! 2021 | {{sortname|Emma|Tonegato}}<ref>{{cite web |title=Tonegato named RLPA Players' Champion |url=https://www.dragons.com.au/news/2022/04/11/tonegato-named-rlpa-players--champion/ |website=dragons.com.au |access-date=4 October 2022 |date=11 April 2022}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Players crown their Champion |url=https://www.rlpa.com.au/nrlw-players-champion-tonegato/ |website=Rugby League Player's Association |access-date=4 October 2022 |date=10 April 2022}}</ref> | {{leagueicon|St George|16}} St. George Illawarra Dragons |- ! 2022 | {{sortname|Raecene|McGregor}}<ref name=2022award/> | {{leagueicon|Easts|16}} Sydney Roosters |- ! 2023 | {{sortname|Teagan|Berry}} | {{leagueicon|St. George|16}} St. George Illawarra Dragons |- ! 2024 | {{sortname|Isabelle|Kelly}} | {{leagueicon|Easts|16}} Sydney Roosters |- ! 2025 | {{sortname|Tamika|Upton}} | {{leagueicon|Brisbane|16}} Brisbane Broncos |- |} {{Col-end}}
== Collective Bargaining Agreement == 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.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/sport/nrl/nrl-rugby-league-players-association-confirm-new-fiveyear-cba/news-story/3351150de48946a95858089f4585fac7|title=NRL reaches $1 billion peace deal|access-date=4 December 2017}}</ref>
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."<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/sport/nrl/rlpa-goes-green-players-plan-onfield-protest-against-nrl-as-pay-war-heats-up/news-story/62d17ad319b663328b7d69775efd4ed1|title=Subscribe to the Daily Telegraph|website=The Daily Telegraph|location=Australia|access-date=6 December 2017}}</ref>
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.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Danckert a |first1=Sarah |last2=Pengilly |first2=Adam |title=League players ramp up pay deal campaign with pleas to sponsors |url=https://www.smh.com.au/business/companies/league-players-ramp-up-pay-deal-campaign-with-pleas-to-sponsors-20230803-p5dtm8.html |website=The Sydney Morning Herald |date=3 August 2023 |access-date=21 August 2023}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last1=Samios |first1=Zoe |title=Trouble at the top as two execs ditch NRL players board |url=https://www.afr.com/companies/sport/trouble-at-the-top-as-two-execs-ditch-nrl-players-board-20230728-p5ds18 |website=Australian Financial Review |date=28 July 2023 |access-date=21 August 2023}}</ref>
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.<ref>{{cite news |title=NRL and players reach pay deal as bitter dispute ends |url=https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2023/aug/10/nrl-and-players-association-reach-pay-deal-as-bitter-dispute-ends |website=The Guardian |date=10 August 2023 |access-date=21 August 2023}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=REPORT: RLPA CONTEMPLATING DRASTIC NEW STEP IN CBA NEGOTIATIONS |url=https://www.sen.com.au/news/2023/07/29/report-rlpa-contemplating-drastic-new-step-in-cba-negotiations/ |website=SEN |access-date=21 August 2023}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last1=Pengilly |first1=Adam |title=NRL players back down on covering logo as future protests planned |url=https://www.smh.com.au/sport/nrl/nrl-players-back-down-on-covering-logo-as-future-protests-planned-20230802-p5dtd8.html |website=The Sydney Morning Herald |date=2 August 2023 |access-date=21 August 2023}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last1=Pengilly |first1=Adam |last2=Chammas |first2=Michael |title=Dally M boycott threat: NRL stars up the ante in industrial dispute |url=https://www.smh.com.au/sport/nrl/dally-m-boycott-threat-nrl-stars-up-the-ante-in-industrial-dispute-20230724-p5dqsv.html |website=The Sydney Morning Herald |date=24 July 2023 |access-date=21 August 2023}}</ref>
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.<ref>{{cite web |title=NRL & RLPA reach CBA agreement |url=https://www.nrl.com/news/2023/08/10/nrl-rlpa-reach-cba-agreement |website=National Rugby League |date=10 August 2023 |access-date=21 August 2023}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last1=Nuttall |first1=Daniel |title=Rugby league's civil war set to end after 'done deal' between RLPA and NRL |url=https://www.foxsports.com.au/nrl/nrl-premiership/nrl-2023-rlpa-v-nrl-peter-vlandys-rugby-league-news-reaction/news-story/f077361bc9dd3c5d16ad54f1e217e32d |website=Fox Sports Australia |date=10 August 2023 |publisher=News Corp |access-date=21 August 2023}}</ref>
==References== {{reflist}}
==External links== * [http://rlpa.com.au/ Rugby League Players Association] {{Portal|Australia|Organized labour}}
{{NRL}} {{NRL Women's Premiership}}
Category:Rugby league in Australia Category:Sports professional associations Category:Sports trade unions Category:National Rugby League Category:NRL Women's Premiership Category:NRL Under-20s Category:Trade unions in Australia Category:Trade unions established in 1979 Category:1979 establishments in Australia