Rugby Australia has written to every professional player in the country setting out its pay offer, including bigger Wallabies win bonuses, as the players’ union prepares legal action over player image rights.
The letter, signed by RA chief executive Phil Waugh and sent to players on Tuesday, was obtained by The Sydney Morning Herald. It follows the failure of RA and the Rugby Union Players’ Association (RUPA) to agree a new collective bargaining agreement (CBA) before the previous deal expired on 31 October.
RUPA has told RA it is commencing legal action over player image rights, and the matter is likely to be heard in the NSW Supreme Court on Friday, the Herald reported. The fight centres on a new trust RUPA has created to hold those rights.
What Rugby Australia is offering
According to the letter, the offer from the “Rugby Bodies” (RA and the Super Rugby clubs) includes a minimum of $158.5 million in player payments, with the players’ share of Gross Player Revenue rising from 29 per cent to 32 per cent.
It also sets out a one-third increase in national contract money in men’s rugby, up to $8 million a year, a 90 per cent funding increase for the Women’s Integrated Rugby Program, to $3.5 million, and a doubling of the number of full-time Wallaroos.
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Wallabies win bonuses would rise from $12,000 to $20,000, but only for Rugby Championship and Bledisloe Cup matches. Rugby World Cup bonuses in 2027 and 2029 would be the same for the Wallabies and the Wallaroos, “of $50,000 per player for a semi-final win and $175,000 per player for winning the tournament (inclusive of the semi-final bonus), for each member of the 33-player squad”, the letter said.
RA has also proposed lifting the Super Rugby salary cap floor from $4.5 million to $5 million, rising to $5.8 million in 2030, with minimum full-time player salaries of $65,000 and core player salaries of $85,000, both rising by $2500 each year.
Waugh said at the weekend that RUPA had denied RA the chance to address players. “This letter is the first opportunity the Rugby Bodies have had to put their position to you directly,” he wrote.
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Players told their obligations still apply
The letter also warned that commercial and media duties are part of players’ individual contracts, even without a CBA. “Players must continue to meet their obligations under the relevant terms of Schedule A, including commercial and promotional appearances … media and broadcast partner commitments, social media posts requested by a Rugby Body on 24 hours’ notice [and] the rules on team clothing, boots and tools of trade,” it said.
For the Wallabies, the letter said: “Commercial, media and promotional activities on tour continue as usual, as scheduled by team management and within the limits in each player’s contract. The Wallabies Team Protocols, including the sponsorship, appearance and dress requirements, continue to apply.”
On image rights, Waugh wrote: “The Rugby Bodies do not accept that the Trust holds any rights that displace the rights granted, and consents given, by players under their contracts, and have said so to RUPA in writing.”
What RUPA has said
RUPA chief executive Adrian Turner said on Sunday that the union had put forward revised proposals before the deadline. “Unfortunately, we haven’t reached agreement, despite making every effort to find a reasonable compromise,” Turner said in a statement reported by the Herald. “In the meantime, we’ve formally notified RA of our intention to commence legal proceedings concerning the commercial use of player rights following the expiry of the CBA.”
“The players remain focused on their playing commitments,” Turner said. “It’s our job as their association to work through these issues with RA, and that’s what we’ll continue to do.”
Wallabies focus on England
The Wallabies play England at Allianz Stadium Twickenham on Sunday 8 November UK time, early on Monday morning AEDT, ESPN reported. Assistant coach Jonny Fisher, speaking at the team hotel in London, said he had seen no sign the dispute would distract the players.
“They’re wearing the Wallaby jersey at the weekend. From my experience of working with these players, that’s everything for them. The rest will be taken care of by the people they’re entrusting to take care of that particular aspect,” Fisher said, as reported by the Herald.
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