Rugby Players' Association

RPA
Rugby Players' Association
Formation1998 (1998)
Location
MembershipDecrease 590 (2024)[1]
General Secretary
Christian Day
Websitetherpa.co.uk

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.[2]

Overview

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.[3]

The RPA was founded by professional player Damian Hopley, who was forced to early retirement after an injury.[4]

In August 2022, the RPA announced that Hopley was to leave the organisation after 24 years in charge of the company.[5]

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.[6]

RPA Men's Rugby Board

The following rugby union professionals playing in England make up the current RPA Men's Rugby Board, as of the 2025-26 season.[7]

Role Player Team
Chair England Max Lahiff Bristol Bears (men)
Vice-chair South Africa Ivan van Zyl Saracens (men)
Board Member
England Brett Connon Newcastle Red Bulls (men)
England Will Evans Harlequins (men)
England Emmanuel Iyogun Northampton Saints (men)
England Ben Spencer Bath Rugby (men)
England Simon McIntyre Sale Sharks (men)
England Richard Capstick Exeter Chiefs (men)
England Lewis Ludlow Gloucester Rugby (men)
England Joe Heyes Leicester Tigers (men)

RPA Women's Rugby Board

In June 2025, the RPA members voted in favour of a proposal to establish a Women's Rugby Board.[8]

According to the RPA, it 'marks a significant step forward in the RPA’s ongoing commitment to provide representation and wellbeing support for every elite player across the game. The creation of both Boards will ensure tailored, player-led representation for men’s and women’s rugby, allowing each to address the unique challenges and opportunities within their respective environments'

The board was announced in January 2026.[9][10]

Role Player Team
Chair England Abi Burton Trailfinders
Vice-chair Wales Jenny Hesketh Bristol
Board Member
Canada Emily Tuttosi Exeter
Ireland Sam Monaghan Gloucester–Hartpury
England Lagi Tuima Harlequins
England Grace Deane Leicester
Scotland Elis Martin Loughborough
England Tysh Harper Sale
England Ella Wyrwas Saracens

Awards

The following have been recognised at the annual RPA Awards, as voted on by professional rugby union players in England, since 2010:[11]

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:[27]

2021–22 2022–23 2023–24 2024–25
No. Player Team Player Team Player Team Player Team
1. England Bevan Rodd Sale England Bevan Rodd Sale England Fin Baxter Harlequins England Asher Opoku-Fordjour Sale
2. England Nic Dolly Leicester England Theo Dan Saracens England Theo Dan Saracens England Theo Dan Saracens
3. England Joe Heyes Leicester England Joe Heyes Leicester England Asher Opoku-Fordjour Sale England Afolabi Fasogbon Gloucester
4. England Nick Isiekwe Saracens England George Martin Leicester Wales Dafydd Jenkins Exeter Wales Freddie Thomas Gloucester
5. England Ollie Chessum Leicester England Hugh Tizard Saracens England Ollie Chessum Leicester England Arthur Clark Gloucester
6. England Ben Earl Saracens England Ted Hill Bath England Chandler Cunningham-South Harlequins England Guy Pepper Bath
7. England Tom Pearson London Irish England Tom Pearson London Irish England Guy Pepper Newcastle England Henry Pollock Northampton
8. England Fitz Harding Bristol England Fitz Harding Bristol Italy Ross Vintcent Exeter England Greg Fisilau Exeter
9. England Harry Randall Bristol Scotland Gus Warr Sale England Jack van Poortvliet Leicester England Jack van Poortvliet Leicester
10. England Marcus Smith Harlequins England Fin Smith Northampton England Fin Smith Northampton England Fin Smith Northampton
11. England Ollie Hassell-Collins London Irish England Cadan Murley Harlequins England Immanuel Feyi-Waboso Exeter England Paul Brown-Bampoe Exeter
12. England Dan Kelly Leicester England Seb Atkinson Gloucester England Max Ojomoh Bath England Seb Atkinson Gloucester
13. England Fraser Dingwall Northampton England Ollie Lawrence Bath England Oscar Beard Harlequins England Oscar Beard Harlequins
14. Wales Louis Rees-Zammit Gloucester Argentina Mateo Carreras Newcastle England Tommy Freeman Northampton England Immanuel Feyi-Waboso Exeter
15. England Freddie Steward Leicester England Joe Carpenter Sale England Josh Hodge Exeter England Ciaran Donoghue Bath

Since the 2023/24 season, the RPA have also voted for a Women's 15 Under 23 Team of the Season, from players from Premiership Women's Rugby.

2023-24 2024–25
No. Player Team Player Team
1. England Abby Middlebrooke Exeter Chiefs England Kelsey Clifford Saracens
2. England Niamh Swailes Sale England Lucy Calladine Loughborough
3. England Kelsey Clifford Saracens England Maud Muir Gloucester–Hartpury
4. England Delaney Burns Bristol Bears England Lilli Ives Campion Leicester
5. England Lilli Ives Campion Loughborough Scotland Eva Donaldson Leicester
6. England Maisy Allen Exeter Chiefs England Georgia Brock Gloucester–Hartpury
7. England Sadia Kabeya Loughborough England Maisy Allen Exeter Chiefs
8. Scotland Evie Gallagher Bristol Bears England Maddie Feaunati Exeter Chiefs
9. Scotland Tori Sellors Saracens England Flo Robinson Exeter Chiefs
10. Wales Lleucu George Gloucester–Hartpury England Lizzie Duffy Sale
11. England Reneeqa Bonner Bristol Bears England Mia Venner Gloucester–Hartpury
12. England Carmella Morrall Loughborough Spain Clàudia Peña Harlequins
13. England Sophie Bridger Saracens Scotland Emma Orr Bristol Bears
14. England Katie Shillaker Harlequins England Millie David Bristol Bears
15. England Ellie Kildunne Harlequins England Emma Sing Gloucester–Hartpury

Hall of Fame

The following players, coaches, officials, administrators and commentators have been inducted into the RPA Hall of Fame:[28]

See also

References

  1. ^ "RPA AR21 Form for the year ending 31 December 2023" (PDF). GOV.UK. Retrieved 12 September 2025.
  2. ^ "The RPA". therpa.co.uk. The RPA. Retrieved 6 January 2025.
  3. ^ "About Us". The RPA. The RPA. Retrieved 22 October 2025.
  4. ^ Hopley continues as players' boss BBC 2006-10-30 Retrieved on 2009-02-13.
  5. ^ "RPA Column - August". The RPA. The RPA.
  6. ^ "Christian Day Elected General Secretary of the RPA". The RPA.
  7. ^ "Max Lahiff and Ivan van Zyl Elected RPA Men's Rugby Board Chair and Vice Chair for 2025/26". The RPA. The RPA. Retrieved 22 October 2025.
  8. ^ "RPA Members Approve Establishment of Men's and Women's Rugby Boards". The RPA. Retrieved 22 October 2025.
  9. ^ "Abi Burton Elected Chair as RPA Announces First Ever Women's Rugby Board". Rugby Players Association. 7 January 2026. Retrieved 7 January 2026.
  10. ^ Henson, Mike (7 January 2026). "Abi Burton: England back row to chair Women's Rugby board". BBC Sport. Retrieved 7 January 2026.
  11. ^ "The RPA Awards". therpa.co.uk. Rugby Players' Association. Retrieved 30 December 2023.
  12. ^ a b c "The RPA Awards 2010". therpa.co.uk. Rugby Players' Association. Retrieved 30 December 2023.
  13. ^ a b c "The RPA Awards 2011". therpa.co.uk. Rugby Players' Association. Retrieved 30 December 2023.
  14. ^ a b c d "The RPA Awards 2012". therpa.co.uk. Rugby Players' Association. Retrieved 30 December 2023.
  15. ^ a b c d e "The RPA Awards 2013". therpa.co.uk. Rugby Players' Association. Retrieved 30 December 2023.
  16. ^ a b c d e "The RPA Awards 2014". therpa.co.uk. Rugby Players' Association. Retrieved 30 December 2023.
  17. ^ a b c d e "The RPA Awards 2015". therpa.co.uk. Rugby Players' Association. Retrieved 30 December 2023.
  18. ^ a b c d e "The RPA Awards 2016". therpa.co.uk. Rugby Players' Association. Retrieved 30 December 2023.
  19. ^ a b c d e "The RPA Awards 2017". therpa.co.uk. Rugby Players' Association. Retrieved 30 December 2023.
  20. ^ a b c d e "The RPA Awards 2018". therpa.co.uk. Rugby Players' Association. Retrieved 30 December 2023.
  21. ^ a b c d e "The RPA Awards 2019". therpa.co.uk. Rugby Players' Association. Retrieved 30 December 2023.
  22. ^ a b c d e "The RPA Awards 2020". therpa.co.uk. Rugby Players' Association. Retrieved 30 December 2023.
  23. ^ a b c d "The RPA Awards 2021". therpa.co.uk. Rugby Players' Association. Retrieved 30 December 2023.
  24. ^ a b c d "The RPA Awards 2022". therpa.co.uk. Rugby Players' Association. Retrieved 30 December 2023.
  25. ^ a b c d "The RPA Awards 2023". therpa.co.uk. Rugby Players' Association. Retrieved 30 December 2023.
  26. ^ a b c d "The RPA Awards 2024: Winners". therpa.co.uk. Rugby Players' Association. 29 May 2024. Retrieved 29 May 2024.
  27. ^ "RPA 15 Under 23". therpa.co.uk. Rugby Players' Association. Retrieved 30 December 2023.
  28. ^ "RPA Hall of Fame". therpa.co.uk. Rugby Players' Association. Retrieved 30 December 2023.
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