A union to act on behalf of players in the Allianz Premier 15s is to be launched today in a move being described as an “amazing step forward” for professional women’s rugby.
The Women’s Rugby Association (WRA) was set up after injured players were forced to raise funds so they could pay for operations.
The Rugby Players’ Association, which works with the England women’s senior and sevens squads, said it did not have the resources to assist Premier15s players. Shocked at how little support there was, Polly Barnes, Emma Lax and Holly Hammill — none of whom were directly involved in professional rugby — joined forces with Nolli Waterman, the former England international, to set up the WRA.
Waterman has been appointed chief executive and a players’ board will be formed with one elected representative from each club.
Two Sale Sharks players, Daisy Hibbert-Jones and Jess Kavanagh, had to raise funds online to cover the cost of surgery and rehabilitation. Alisha Butchers, the Wales and Bristol Bears flanker, was also forced to raise £5,000 in March to pay for an ankle ligament operation because the club were not liable for her medical cover.
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Although Bristol did make a contribution, Butchers then discovered that her own medical insurance was invalid because of her semi-professional status. “That was a double whammy,” she said.
Butchers believes her situation would not have arisen had she had the specialist legal and medical advice when she signed her Bristol contract that will now be on offer.
She also hopes the WRA, representing the collective voice of the players, can put pressure on clubs to improve the terms of contracts and medical cover across the league.
“Clubs have been trying to get away with minimum standards, even below that,” Butchers said. “Daisy and Jess are two others that I know about and there are probably others who have had to borrow money. We are considered to be elite rugby players and that is appalling. I think this service is going to make such a difference and hopefully clubs will have a responsibility to provide the support players need.
“(Full medical cover) should be in the minimum operating standards of every club. I know a lot of clubs have upped their game a little bit since the players had to turn to Go Fund Me and voiced their opinions last season.
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“I think it is really important that players have someone to turn to. I am just so grateful. Emma reached out to me ten months ago and she couldn’t believe elite sports women were going through what I was going through. I explained to her it had been going on for years. I spoke to Nollie and Polly. The amount of work they have done to get this up and running, free of charge volunteering, is amazing.”
The nominal membership fee for players will be £1 and the ambition is to secure commercial funding that keeps the WRA wholly independent. The RFU, which runs the AP15s, is believed to be supportive of the WRA.
England players who play in the AP15s can be members of both the WRA and RPA. “At a pivotal time in domestic women’s rugby, it is important that players are appropriately supported and protected on and off the field so they can perform at their best in rugby and beyond,” Waterman said.
“Players also need to be given the opportunity to have their voice and collective opinions heard to ensure they can help shape the progression and sustainability of the game they are at the heart of.”
