Rugby Players Ireland

The Rugby Players Ireland is the representative body for professional rugby players in Ireland. Founded in October 2001, its aims are to promote and protect the welfare of professional rugby players in Ireland.[1][2] The Chief Executive Officer is Simon Keogh and Rob Kearney is its current chairman.[3] Its headquarters are in Clonskeagh in Dublin.

Rugby Players Ireland
Rugby Players Ireland
Founded2001
HeadquartersClonskeagh, Dublin
Location
Key people
Rob Kearney (Chairman)
Websitewww.rugbyplayersireland.ie

Objectives

The associations objectives are:-

  • To promote and protect the welfare of its members, both during and after their careers.
  • To cater for the educational and welfare needs of its members, to ensure that they have sufficient preparation for the life after rugby.
  • To work in partnership with the IRFU to further the cause of Rugby Union in Ireland.
  • To be the representative mouthpiece for professional rugby players on issues of importance to the game.[4]

Services

Rugby Players Ireland provides a Player Development Manager (PDM). The five pillars of Rugby Players Ireland's Player Development Programme are 1) Education, Training & Skills, 2) Social Engagement, 3) Financial Management & Planning, 4) Player Wellbeing and 5) Career Advice & Guidance. Each PDM works closely with the players on an individual level to prepare them for the transition to life after professional rugby.[2]

The association also acts as a negotiator between players and their employer. They are involved with negotiating group contracts in areas such as match and win bonuses and act as a go-between in the event of disputes. In 2018, the remit of Rugby Players Ireland was extended to include the Irish 7s programme in addition to international women's players.[5] This includes bringing industrial action if necessary.[6]

History

In October 2001 Ireland's professional rugby players set up the Irish Rugby Union Players' Association. Over 95% of all players with a contract with the IRFU joined the new body. Liam Toland and Peter McKenna were appointed Chairman and Secretary.[4]

In 2003, the members of the association realised the need for a full-time employee and former Ireland International Niall Woods was appointed the first full-time Chief Executive Officer.[4]

On 12 April 2017, the organization changed its name from the Irish Rugby Union Players Association (IRUPA) to Rugby Players Ireland.[7]

Awards
2008 and 2010 IRUPA Players player of the year; Tommy Bowe

Rugby Players Ireland has run the annual Rugby Players Ireland Awards dinner from 2002 which gives recognition to rugby players in a number of categories. The awards dinner is run to support the Rugby Players Ireland Foundation.[8] The most prestigious award is the Players' Player of the Year award which is voted for by playing members of Rugby Players Ireland.

Players' Player of the Year winners
YearPlayerTeam
2003Malcolm O'KellyLeinster[9]
2004Gordon D'ArcyLeinster[10]
2005Johnny O'ConnorLondon Wasps[11]
2006Paul O'ConnellMunster[12]
2007Gordon D'ArcyLeinster[13]
2008Tommy BoweUlster[14]
2009Brian O'DriscollLeinster[15]
2010Tommy Bowe *Ospreys[14]
2011Isa NacewaLeinster[16]
2012Rob KearneyLeinster[17]
2013Nick WilliamsUlster[17]
2014Andrew TrimbleUlster[17]
2015Paul O'ConnellMunster[18]
2016CJ StanderMunster[19]
2017Conor MurrayMunster[20]
2018Keith EarlsMunster[21]
2019James RyanLeinster[22]
2020Garry RingroseLeinster[23]
2021Robbie HenshawLeinster[24]
2022Josh van der FlierLeinster[25]

* Tommy Bowe was also awarded the 2010 WRPA Players' Player of the Year Award.[26]

Other awards

Other awards include the Young Player of the Year award, Try of the Year and the Unsung Hero as well as the Hall of Fame.

List of Hall of Fame inductees

The Rugby Players Ireland Hall of Fame includes the following members:[27]

YearInductee(s)
2003Mick Galwey, Peter Clohessy
2004Keith Wood, Paddy Johns
2005Eric Elwood
2006Jeremy Davidson
2007Victor Costello
2008David Humphreys
2009Anthony Foley
2010Girvan Dempsey
2011Malcolm O'Kelly
2012John Hayes
2013Denis Hickie
2014Simon Best
2015David Wallace
2016Ronan O'Gara
2017Geordan Murphy
2018Brian O'Driscoll
2019Conor O'Shea
2020Gordon D'Arcy
2021Not Awarded
2022Tommy Bowe & Fiona Coghlan

Rugby Players Ireland Foundation

Rugby Players Ireland administers the injured players fund which provides support to players who are forced to retire from rugby due to illness or injury. The fund is reliant on individual and corporate donations.[28] The Rugby Players Ireland annual awards dinner is also a major part of its fundraising activity.[29] Following the 2010 Haiti earthquake, Rugby Players Ireland made a donation of €20,000 from the injured players fund to assist with relief efforts through aid agency Concern.[3]

See also

References
  1. "IRUPA HOME PAGE". IRUPA. Retrieved 3 June 2010.
  2. "Preparing for the life less ordinary". Irish Independent. 15 September 2008. Retrieved 3 June 2010.
  3. "IRUPA Members Donate €20,000 to Concern Earthquake Appeal". Emerald Rugby. 15 January 2010. Retrieved 6 June 2010.
  4. "ABOUT US". IRUPA. Retrieved 3 June 2010.
  5. "IRFU meeting IRUPA over pay dispute". RTÉ. 19 November 2004. Retrieved 6 June 2010.
  6. "IRFU 'disrespectful', claim players". Irish Examiner. 25 May 2004. Retrieved 6 June 2010.
  7. "IRUPA to become 'Rugby Players Ireland'". Irish Rugby Football Union. 12 April 2017. Retrieved 5 November 2017.
  8. "The Irish Rugby Union Players' Association has announced the nominations for Player of the Year for 2010". sportsnewsireland.com. 27 April 2010. Archived from the original on 7 May 2010. Retrieved 3 June 2010.
  9. "IRUPA Mira Rugby Players Awards 2003". IRUPA. 19 May 2003. Retrieved 3 June 2010.
  10. "IRUPA Awards". irishrugby.ie. 20 May 2004. Archived from the original on 21 November 2007. Retrieved 3 June 2010.
  11. "O'Connor wins Irish players gong". BBC. 5 May 2005. Retrieved 3 June 2010.
  12. "BT IRUPA Rugby Players Awards 2006". IRUPA. 15 May 2006. Retrieved 3 June 2010.
  13. "D'Arcy picks up second Players' Player gong". RTÉ. 25 April 2007. Archived from the original on 30 June 2007. Retrieved 3 June 2010.
  14. "Bowe Voted Irish Players' Player of the Year". irishrugby.ie. 12 May 2010. Archived from the original on 16 May 2010. Retrieved 3 June 2010.
  15. "O'Driscoll Chosen As IRUPA Players' Player of the Year". irishrugby.ie. 6 May 2009. Archived from the original on 28 May 2010. Retrieved 3 June 2010.
  16. "Nacewa scoops IRUPA award". 4 May 2011. Retrieved 7 May 2011.
  17. Sara Jane English (3 May 2015). "12 Years of IRUPA Awards – Stats & Facts". Archived from the original on 31 January 2016. Retrieved 12 May 2015.
  18. "O'Connell Is IRUPA Players' Player of the Year". Munster Rugby. 13 May 2015. Retrieved 5 May 2016.
  19. "Stander Voted IRUPA Players' Player of the Year". Munster Rugby. 4 May 2016. Retrieved 5 May 2016.
  20. "Murray Voted Rugby Players Ireland Player of the Year". Munster Rugby. 11 May 2017. Retrieved 11 May 2017.
  21. "Earls Voted Players' Player of the Year at Irish Rugby Awards". Munster Rugby. 16 May 2018. Retrieved 17 May 2018.
  22. "James Ryan Scoops Double at Zurich Irish Rugby Players Awards". Irish Rugby. 16 May 2019. Retrieved 16 May 2019.
  23. "Ringrose And Moloney Win Player Of The Year Awards", Irish Rugby, 17 October 2020
  24. "Henshaw And Wall Win Irish Players’ Player Of The Year Awards", Irish Rugby, 3 December 2021
  25. "Josh van der Flier and Sam Monaghan voted Players of the Year by Irish-rugby peers", The 42, 18 May 2022
  26. "Bowe scoops Welsh honour". Scrum.com. 19 May 2010. Retrieved 10 October 2010.
  27. "Hall of Fame". IRUPA. Retrieved 6 June 2010.
  28. "Injured players fund". IRUPA. Retrieved 3 June 2010.
  29. "IRUPA Award Nominees Announced". Irish Rugby. 9 April 2009. Archived from the original on 13 April 2008. Retrieved 6 June 2010.
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