Rugby Players Ireland Explained

Rugby Players Ireland
Full Name:Rugby Players Ireland
Caption:Rugby Players Ireland logo
Location Country:Ireland
Key People:Rob Kearney (Chairman)
Headquarters:Clonskeagh, Dublin

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.

Objectives

The associations objectives are:-

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.

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.[4] This includes bringing industrial action if necessary.[5]

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.[6]

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.

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

Awards

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

Year PlayerTeam
2003 Leinster[9]
2004 Leinster[10]
2005 London Wasps[11]
2006 Munster[12]
2007Gordon D'Arcy Leinster[13]
2008Ulster[14]
2009Brian O'DriscollLeinster[15]
2010 Tommy Bowe * Ospreys
2011 Leinster[16]
2012 Leinster[17]
2013 Ulster
2014 Ulster
2015 Munster[18]
2016 Munster[19]
2017 Munster[20]
2018 Munster[21]
2019 Leinster[22]
2020 Leinster[23]
2021 Leinster[24]
2022 Leinster[25]
2023 Leinster[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:[28]

Year Inductee(s)
2003 Mick Galwey, Peter Clohessy
2004 Keith Wood, Paddy Johns
2005 Eric Elwood
2006 Jeremy Davidson
2007 Victor Costello
2008 David Humphreys
2009 Anthony Foley
2010 Girvan Dempsey
2011 Malcolm O'Kelly
2012 John Hayes
2013 Denis Hickie
2014 Simon Best
2015 David Wallace
2016 Ronan O'Gara
2017 Geordan Murphy
2018 Brian O'Driscoll
2019 Conor O'Shea
2020 Gordon D'Arcy
2021 Not Awarded
2022 Tommy Bowe & Fiona Coghlan
2023 Shane Horgan & Alison Miller

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.[29] The Rugby Players Ireland annual awards dinner is also a major part of its fundraising activity.[30] 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.

See also

Notes and References

  1. Web site: IRUPA HOME PAGE. IRUPA. 3 June 2010.
  2. News: Preparing for the life less ordinary. Irish Independent. 15 September 2008. 3 June 2010.
  3. Web site: IRUPA Members Donate €20,000 to Concern Earthquake Appeal. Emerald Rugby. 15 January 2010. 6 June 2010.
  4. Web site: IRFU meeting IRUPA over pay dispute . RTÉ. 19 November 2004. 6 June 2010.
  5. News: IRFU 'disrespectful', claim players. Irish Examiner . 25 May 2004 . 6 June 2010.
  6. Web site: ABOUT US. IRUPA. 3 June 2010.
  7. Web site: IRUPA to become 'Rugby Players Ireland'. Irish Rugby Football Union. 12 April 2017. 5 November 2017.
  8. Web site: The Irish Rugby Union Players' Association has announced the nominations for Player of the Year for 2010 . sportsnewsireland.com . 27 April 2010 . 3 June 2010 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20100507111237/http://www.sportsnewsireland.com/2010/04/27/the-irish-rugby-union-players-association-has-announced-the-nominations-for-player-of-the-year-for-2010/ . 7 May 2010 .
  9. Web site: IRUPA Mira Rugby Players Awards 2003 . IRUPA. 19 May 2003. 3 June 2010.
  10. Web site: IRUPA Awards . irishrugby.ie . 20 May 2004 . 3 June 2010 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20071121102420/http://www.irishrugby.ie/6855_3676.php . 21 November 2007 .
  11. Web site: O'Connor wins Irish players gong. BBC. 5 May 2005. 3 June 2010.
  12. Web site: BT IRUPA Rugby Players Awards 2006. IRUPA. 15 May 2006. 3 June 2010.
  13. Web site: D'Arcy picks up second Players' Player gong . . 25 April 2007 . 3 June 2010 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20070630142527/http://www.rte.ie/sport/rugby/2007/0425/ireland.html . 30 June 2007 .
  14. Web site: Bowe Voted Irish Players' Player of the Year . irishrugby.ie . 12 May 2010 . 3 June 2010 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20100516144641/http://www.irishrugby.ie/283_20838.php . 16 May 2010 .
  15. Web site: O'Driscoll Chosen As IRUPA Players' Player of the Year . irishrugby.ie . 6 May 2009 . 3 June 2010 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20100528032158/http://www.irishrugby.ie/283_17124.php . 28 May 2010 .
  16. Web site: Nacewa scoops IRUPA award. 4 May 2011. 7 May 2011.
  17. Web site: 12 Years of IRUPA Awards – Stats & Facts . Sara Jane English . 3 May 2015 . 12 May 2015 . https://web.archive.org/web/20160131055231/http://www.irupa.ie/12-years-of-irupa-awards-stats-facts/ . 31 January 2016 . dead .
  18. News: O'Connell Is IRUPA Players' Player of the Year. 13 May 2015. Munster Rugby. 5 May 2016.
  19. News: Stander Voted IRUPA Players' Player of the Year. 4 May 2016. Munster Rugby. 5 May 2016.
  20. Web site: Murray Voted Rugby Players Ireland Player of the Year. 11 May 2017. Munster Rugby. 11 May 2017.
  21. News: Earls Voted Players' Player of the Year at Irish Rugby Awards. 16 May 2018. Munster Rugby. 17 May 2018.
  22. News: James Ryan Scoops Double at Zurich Irish Rugby Players Awards. 16 May 2019. Irish Rugby. 16 May 2019.
  23. https://www.irishrugby.ie/2020/10/17/ringrose-and-moloney-win-player-of-the-year-awards/ "Ringrose And Moloney Win Player Of The Year Awards"
  24. https://www.irishrugby.ie/2021/12/03/henshaw-and-wall-win-irish-players-player-of-the-year-awards/ "Henshaw And Wall Win Irish Players’ Player Of The Year Awards"
  25. https://www.the42.ie/rugby-players-ireland-awards-5767804-May2022/#:~:text=and%20Sam%20Monaghan.-,Rugby%20Players%20Ireland%27s%20Men%27s%20and%20Women%27s%20Players%20of%20the%20Year,Players%20Ireland%20Awards%20this%20evening. "Josh van der Flier and Sam Monaghan voted Players of the Year by Irish-rugby peers"
  26. https://www.rugbyplayersireland.ie/rugby-players-ireland-awards-2023-winners-announced/
  27. News: Bowe scoops Welsh honour. Scrum.com. 19 May 2010. 10 October 2010.
  28. Web site: Hall of Fame. IRUPA. 6 June 2010.
  29. Web site: Injured players fund. IRUPA. 3 June 2010.
  30. Web site: IRUPA Award Nominees Announced . Irish Rugby . 9 April 2009 . 6 June 2010 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20080413013142/http://www.irishrugby.ie/283_11619.php . 13 April 2008 .