RUPA plans legal action amid pay impasse with Rugby Australia

Months of tense negotiations between RUPA and RA failed to produce a new CBA, with the two sides starting tens of millions of dollars apart on minimum player wage spend over five years and still significantly separated at the finish, according to sources. Funding for career-ending insurance policies and private health premiums was also a sticking point, according to sources.

The deadlock means players are no longer bound by the old agreement, opening the door to potential industrial action. Wallabies play England next weekend, Australian sevens sides begin the World Series later this month, and Super Rugby men's squads start pre-season training this week.

RUPA boss Adrian Turner appeared to rule out a strike, saying “the players remain focused on their playing commitments”. But he said the union had formally notified RA of its intention to commence legal proceedings concerning the commercial use of player rights following the expiry of the CBA.

“Unfortunately, we haven’t reached agreement, despite making every effort to find a reasonable compromise,” Turner said in a statement. “We put forward revised proposals and positions this week in an effort to bridge the remaining differences, but RA has confirmed the Rugby Bodies aren’t prepared to improve their financial offer.

“The players have every interest in seeing the game grow financially, and we’ve approached these negotiations with that firmly in mind. Equally, we have a responsibility to our members, and there are some fundamental conditions we can’t compromise on. Any agreement needs to properly recognise the players’ contribution to the game and provide the conditions and protections they should expect as professional athletes.

“The ball is in RA’s court now, and we’ll wait to hear from them on whether there’s a way forward.”

Rugby Australia boss Phil Waugh responded by saying RA had made a strong offer and accused RUPA officials of blocking direct talks with players.

“Rugby Australia and Australia’s Super Rugby Clubs have engaged in good faith and proposed to RUPA a position that rewards today’s players while protecting the communities, pathways and high-performance systems that will produce all the generations to come,” Waugh said.

“Rugby Australia has transparently and consistently provided RUPA’s leadership with the game’s current and future financials, which form the basis of the position put forward by RA and the SRCs. In addition, RA has requested on several occasions to speak directly with the players to convey its position. These requests have been rejected by RUPA.”

RUPA has argued for RA to invest more in players in the next cycle, using significant windfalls from the Lions and the Rugby World Cup. The union said last month it was “unacceptable” that players would not get a cut of the $100m fee paid to RA for hosting the 2027 World Cup.

RA has argued it needs to ensure cash reserves are not exhausted within a few years. Talks between the parties are expected to continue this week.