Wallaroos captain Siokapesi Palu has sharply criticised Rugby Australia (RA) over the governing body's handling of a pay dispute, accusing it of refusing to collectively negotiate the standard playing contract and provide RUPA with a copy. She also called for better protections for injured players. RA chief executive Phil Waugh defended the organisation's commitment to women's rugby and suggested the players' union could invest part of its accumulated funding to help cover insurance costs.
Palu, who plays for the Brumbies, posted a nine-page statement on Instagram on Friday evening detailing her concerns. She said RA had not provided the Rugby Union Players' Association (RUPA) with a copy of the proposed standard playing contract despite repeated requests, and had refused to negotiate it collectively.
The dispute comes as the Wallaroos are poised to become a full-time professional program in January next year, with former Scotland coach Sione Fukofuka taking the helm. The team will host the Rugby World Cup two years later. RA and RUPA have been unable to reach an agreement and could still meet in the NSW Supreme Court.
She said the players “are not asking for special treatment; we are asking for professional standards”. She also called for better protections for injured players, saying she wanted future Wallaroos to focus on being the best players they can be “without having to fight for basic protections”.
Waugh, in a statement provided to this masthead, acknowledged that insurance is a sticking point in negotiations. He said RA and the Super Rugby Clubs had put forward a position that improves outcomes for players, including the establishment of a full-time professional women's XV program that more than doubles the number of full-time professional women's rugby players and provides equitable bonuses for performance at home Rugby World Cups. He suggested that RUPA could invest a portion of the approximately $5 million it has accumulated from RA funding to help provide health insurance for players. "The game cannot shoulder all the new costs proposed by RUPA in their totality," he said.
RA introduced a pregnancy policy in 2018 for its full-time sevens program. In 2023, it announced that contracted Wallaroos players would receive their full contract amount while on maternity leave. When the Wallaroos program turns professional next year, it is planned that players will move onto the same policy as their sevens counterparts. Currently, Wallaroos and sevens players provide their own health insurance and can face out-of-pocket costs before claiming reimbursement from RA. RUPA believes the current pregnancy policy needs to be reviewed.
Analysis
Why This Matters
- The dispute highlights tensions between Rugby Australia and its players as the women's game prepares to go professional.
- The outcome could affect the working conditions and compensation of professional female rugby players in Australia.
- If unresolved, the dispute may end up in court, potentially delaying the professional program.
Background
The Wallaroos are Australia's women's national rugby union team. Rugby Australia and the Rugby Union Players' Association (RUPA) have been in negotiations over a new collective bargaining agreement. The current agreement was made in 2023. RUPA and RA are at odds over contract negotiations, insurance, and player protections. The Wallaroos are set to become a full-time professional program in January next year. RA has a pregnancy policy for its sevens program, which it plans to extend to the Wallaroos.
Key Perspectives
Siokapesi Palu (Wallaroos captain): Accuses RA of refusing to collectively negotiate player contracts and not providing a copy of the proposed contract. Calls for professional standards and better protections for injured players.
Phil Waugh (Rugby Australia chief executive): Defends RA's commitment to women's rugby, including doubling the number of professional female players. Suggests RUPA use accumulated funding to resolve insurance issues. Says the game cannot bear all new costs proposed by RUPA.
What to Watch
- Whether the dispute leads to legal action in the NSW Supreme Court.
- The professionalisation of the Wallaroos in January.
- Any further developments in negotiations.
Checked
12 claims in this story checked against 1 source: 12 supported.
Show each claim
- SupportedWallaroos captain Siokapesi Palu slammed Rugby Australia over the pay dispute.Sydney Morning Herald - Latest News: “Wallaroos captain Siokapesi Palu slamming the governing body for a lack of commitment in negotiations”
- SupportedPalu accused RA of refusing to negotiate the standard playing contract collectively.Sydney Morning Herald - Latest News: ““Rugby Australia has also refused to collectively negotiate the standard playing contract it expects players to sign or even provide RUPA with a copy of the proposed contract, despite repeated requests on behalf of our members,” Palu wrote”
- SupportedPalu said RA had not provided RUPA with a copy of the proposed contract despite repeated requests.Sydney Morning Herald - Latest News: ““Rugby Australia has also refused to collectively negotiate the standard playing contract it expects players to sign or even provide RUPA with a copy of the proposed contract, despite repeated requests on behalf of our members,” Palu wrote”
- SupportedPalu said the players “are not asking for special treatment; we are asking for professional standards”.Sydney Morning Herald - Latest News: “Palu said the players “are not asking for special treatment; we are asking for professional standards”.”
- SupportedPalu called for better protections so future Wallaroos would not have to fight for basic protections.Sydney Morning Herald - Latest News: ““I want the next generation of Wallaroos to focus on being the best rugby players they can be, without having to fight for basic protections,” she said.”
- SupportedPalu posted a nine-page statement on Instagram on Friday evening.Sydney Morning Herald - Latest News: “Palu wrote in a nine-page statement posted on Instagram on Friday evening.”
- SupportedThe Wallaroos are due to become a full-time program in January next year.Sydney Morning Herald - Latest News: “The Wallaroos will become a full-time program in January”
- SupportedWaugh said the proposed full-time professional women’s XV program would more than double the number of full-time professional women’s rugby players.Sydney Morning Herald - Latest News: “the establishment of a full-time professional women’s XV program that more than doubles the number of full-time professional women’s rugby players”
- SupportedWaugh said the proposal included equitable bonuses for performance at home Rugby World Cups.Sydney Morning Herald - Latest News: “provides equitable bonuses for Wallabies and Wallaroos performance in their respective home Rugby World Cups.”
- SupportedWaugh suggested RUPA could invest part of the approximately $5 million it had accumulated from RA funding to help provide insurance for players.Sydney Morning Herald - Latest News: “One such solution could see RUPA invest a portion of the approximately $5 million it has accumulated from Rugby Australia funding for the benefit of the players it represents.”
- SupportedWaugh said, “The game cannot shoulder all the new costs proposed by RUPA in their totality”.Sydney Morning Herald - Latest News: ““It has also been communicated that the game cannot shoulder all the new costs proposed by RUPA in their totality.””
- SupportedWallaroos and sevens players provide their own health insurance and can face out-of-pocket costs before reimbursement from RA.Sydney Morning Herald - Latest News: “Wallaroos and sevens players provide their own health insurance and can face out-of-pocket costs for premiums and surgery, before waiting for reimbursement from Rugby Australia.”