TTHEADVANTAGELINE THEADVANTAGELINE HEADVANTAGELINE
BETTER PEOPLE
BETTER PLAYERS BETTER LIVES
MESSAGE FROM CEO - JUSTIN HARRISON (#770)
Aswemovethroughwhathasalreadybeenagreat2025rugbyseason,I’dliketotakea momenttoreflectonthestrength,growthandevolvingspiritofourgame,bothonandoff thefield.
The2025SuperRugbyPacificseasonhasagainhighlightedtheexceptionaltalentand resilienceofourplayinggroup.Acrossthecompetition,athleteshavecontinuedtosethigh standardsofprofessionalism,bothinperformanceandcharacter,astheyrepresenttheir clubs,communities,andthegamewithpride.Theircommitmenttocontinualgrowth,inthe faceofchallengesandopportunity,issomethingwenevertakeforgranted.
Inparallel,theWallarooscontinuetobuildmomentumontheinternationalstage.Their performancesthisseasonareapowerfulreflectionoftheprogressinwomen’srugby,and RUPAisproudtostandalongsidetheseathletesaswecollectivelystriveforgreater investment,equity,andopportunityinthewomen’sgame.
OurRugby7sathleteshavealsoshowntheworldtheuniquestrengthsofAustralian rugby Theircampaignsthisseasonhavedemonstratedtheagility,speed,andspirit thatmakeSevenssuchadynamicformatofthegame.Theircontributiontothe broaderrugbyecosystemisimmense,andtheirsuccesses,pastandfuture,area sourceofinspirationformany.
Offthefield,RUPAhasremainedfocusedon ensuringeveryplayerhasthetools,guidance andsupporttothriveinallaspectsoflife. We’vecontinuedtohostnetworkingevenings aroundthecountry,connectingplayerswith industriesbeyondrugby,andhelpingbuild confidencearoundtransitionandcareer exploration.Ourpastplayercatch-upshave strengthenedthebondsbetweencurrentand formerplayers,reinforcingthelifelong connectionthatcomeswithbeingpartofthe rugbycommunity
MESSAGE FROM PRESIDENT - TOM ROBERTSON (#898)
DearMembers,
Aswewrapupthesecondquarterof2025,Iwanttotakeamomenttoacknowledgethe outstandingeffortsofourplayinggrouponthefield,ininternationalarenas,and throughtheiroff-fieldendeavours.
TheSuperRugbyPacificseasondeliveredoneofthemostcompetitivecampaignsin recentmemory TheACTBrumbiesonceagainledthechargefortheAustraliansides, ultimatelyfallingshortinthesemi-finals.InSuperRugbyWomen’s,theNSWWaratahs claimedarecordsixthtitleinathrillingfinalagainstacourageousQueenslandReds outfit.
Ontheinternationalstage,theWallaroosimpressedinthePacificFourSeries,including amemorablewinovertheUSA.WiththeWomen’sRugbyWorldCupfastapproachingin theUKlaterthisyear,themomentumisbuilding,andthenationwillberightbehind them.FortheWallabies,achallengingTestseasonbeginswithaclashagainsta powerfulFijianside,followedbyoneofthemostanticipatedseriesinrecenthistory the battleagainsttheBritishandIrishLions.Despiteaspiritedstart,theWesternForcewere overcomebyadominantLionsside,settingthestageforwhatpromisestobeahistoric series.
OurMen’sandWomen’sSevensteamswerebusythroughoutthequarter,competingin SingaporeandLosAngeles TheWomennarrowlymissedoutonvictoryintheLAfinal, whiletheMencontinuetobuildwithayouthful,dynamicsquadgearedtowardsthe upcomingOlympics.
I’dliketomakespecialmentionofthoseretiringfromSuperRugbyfollowingthisseason, whetherduetoinjuryorthepursuitofnewopportunities.ThisincludesSamCarter,Matt Gibbon,HughSinclair,andMasonGordon,playerswhohaveeachmadeaprofound impactbothonandoffthefield Wethankthemfortheirserviceandwishthemthevery bestintheirnextchapter.
MESSAGE FROM PRESIDENT - TOM ROBERTSON (#898)
ThankyouaswelltotheRUPAteamforcoordinatinganumberofvaluableoff-field initiativesthroughoutthequarter,includingnetworking,careerdevelopment,andcultural sessionsacrosstheSuperRugbyclubs.Theseeventsaren’teasytoorganise,giventhe logisticalchallengesacrossfranchises,butthefeedbackfromplayershasbeen overwhelminglypositive.
AsyourPresident,I’mproudtorepresentagroupthatcontinuestoembody professionalism,resilience,andunity RUPAremainscommittedtoamplifyingyourvoices, whetheronmattersofplayerwelfare,thecollectivebargainingprocess,orthelong-term futureofourgame.
Yoursinrugby,
TomRobertson President,RugbyUnionPlayersAssociation
AROUNDTHEGROUNDS-NSWWARATAHS
Thisseasonwasmarkedbyadiverseandimpactfulseriesofinitiativesdesignedto fosterpersonaldevelopment,culturalconnection,andprofessionalgrowthforWaratahs players.CulturalengagementsincludedaWaratahsPasifikaDay,whichhonoured PacificIslanderheritagewithtraditionalperformances,food,andstorytelling. Additionally,a Mother’sDayLunchandFather’sLunchwasheldtoofferheartfelt recognitionofthevitalrolefamiliesplayinsupportingourathletes.Theseasonincluded workshopsaimedatempoweringathletesoffthefield,withinitiativessuchas mortgages,superannuation,financialplanning,andbudgetingprovidedessentialtools forfinancialindependence TheLifeSkillssessionscoveredpracticaldailyresponsibilities liketimemanagement,whilefoodpreparationworkshopstaughtathleteshowtomake nutritiousmealsefficientlyfortheweekahead.
Prioritizingmentalandphysicalwellness,theseasonincludedsessionsonstress,sleep, nutrition,andrecovery Thesewerecrucialineducatingathletesonsustainingpeak performanceandlong-termhealth.Inaddition,programslikemediatrainingand coachingskillsallowedtheWaratahstogainvaluablecommunicationandleadership tools.
Therewerealsomanymilestoneon-fieldmomentsformanyplayers.Ahuge congratulationstoAngusBell,TaneEdmed,andCharlieGambleonplaying50gamesfor theWaratahs,andtoFergusLee-Warneronreaching50SuperRugbyappearances Wealsocelebratethe2025debutantsfortheWaratahs:JamieAdamson,SiosifaAmone, LawsonCreighton,EthanDobbins,BenGrant,IsaacKailea,DarbyLancaster,RobLeota, HenryO’Donnell,ArchieSa afiTalataina,TanielaTupou,
AROUNDTHEGROUNDS-WESTERNFORCE
50thgamealongsideIssakFines-Leleiwasa,BayleyKuenzle,andSioTomkinson
Inapowerfulmomentofreflectionandcelebration,theWesternForcemarked20yearsof clubhistory.PastlegendsincludingNathanSharpe,MattHodgson,NickCummins,IanPrior, andRebeccaCloughformedaguardofhonourasthe2025squadranoutinreplicakits fromtheirinaugural2006season,agreattributethatconnectedpastandpresent.
Offthefield,CaitlinBassettjoinedtheForceinAprilasthenewPlayerDevelopment Manager,bringingherelitesportbackgroundandleadershiptotherole.Withastrong emphasisonbuildingauthenticrelationshipsandcreatingtailoredsupportpathways, Caitlinhasquicklybecomeavaluedresourceacrosstheplayinggroup.Shealso representedtheForceatElevate,theWorldPlayers’Associationconferenceheldin Auckland,wherekeytopicssuchasstressandperformance,andcoachingfor vulnerabilitywereexplored.Theseinsightswilldirectlyinformtheevolutionofaplayer developmentprogramdesignedtosupportholisticgrowth,lifeafterrugby,and individualisedwellbeing
AROUNDTHEGROUNDS-RUGBYSEVENS
InearlyMarch,theinauguralRUPASevensInductionwasdeliveredacrosstwoengaging half-daysessionsdesignedtoequipplayerswithessentialknowledge,tools,and supportfortheirprofessionalandpersonaldevelopment Theprogrambeganwithan introductiontoRUPA,outliningwhoweareandthevariousservicesweprovideto supportplayersbothonandoffthefield.
Akeyfocusoftheinductionwasexploringtheimportanceofoff-fielddevelopment. Playerswereencouragedtoreflectonthecostandbenefitsofinvestinginpersonal growthandwereguidedthroughwhatthatcanlooklikeonanindividuallevel.Thisled intoanhonestdiscussionabouttheuniquechallengeswithinhigh-performance environments,andpracticalstrategiestonavigatethem.Playerswereintroducedtothe conceptofself-developmentandadaptivemindsets,contrastingthiswithcommon self-limitingthinkingtrapsthatcanhindergrowth.Thegroupalsospenttimeidentifying theirpersonalstrengthsandvalues,andhowthesecanbeharnessedinboththeir sportingandlifejourneys.
OurpartnersatBDOranapracticalandinformativefinancialawarenesssession, equippingplayerswithfoundationalknowledgearoundfinanceandtaxrelevanttolife asaprofessionalathlete.Thefirstdayconcludedwithanimpactfulgoal-settingsession designedtosupportongoingconversationswithcoaches,PlayerDevelopment Managers,andsupportstaff
Ondaytwo,BDOreturningtoleadasessiononfinancialliteracy,budgetingskills,and spendingidentity.Playersthendevelopedpersonalisedresilienceplansandwere introducedtothementalhealthspectrum,alongwithtoolsforrejuvenationand guidanceonhowtoactivatestrongsupportnetworks.
VickieSaundersfromBrandBuildersdeliveredanengagingsessiononathletebranding, exploringthedo’sanddon’tsofbuildingapersonalbrand,andwhyitmattersinand beyondsport.Tocloseouttheinduction,playerswerebriefedonkeyinformation regardingcontractingandinsurance,beforehearingsomefinalreflectionsandwordsof encouragementfromRUPACEOJustinHarrison,settingastrongtoneforthejourney ahead.
AROUNDTHEGROUNDS-RUGBYSEVENS
Offthefield,AustralianRugbySevensCaptainandRUPAboardmember,Henry Hutchison,completedtheSportsGovernanceEducationProgram,deliveredin partnershipwithiSport,markinganotherimportantstepinhisprofessionalandpersonal developmentjourney.
“IamgratefultoRUPAandiSportforputtingmethroughthiscourse,andIwillcontinue toupskillanddevelopmyselfthroughothercoursesandprogramsprovidedthrough RUPA.IampassionateaboutrepresentingAustralianRugbyUnionPlayers,anddoing thiscoursehasmadememoreconfidenttotakeforwardnewideasandnewwaysof thinkingtohelpgrowthegame,onandoffthefield.”-HenryHutchison
RUPA’sSportsGovernanceEducationProgramwasdevelopedbyiSportCEOandSports BusinessProfessional,DrDaveArthur.Thethree-partshortcourseaddressesmanyof thechallengesfacedbyprofessionalplayersastheyembarkonboardmembership, andenablesthemtobuildthecorefoundationalskillstoeffectivelyrepresentplaying groups
“Ibuiltthisprogrambasedonsomehardwon,practicalexperiencetoaddress challengesandissuesfacedbynewRUPABoardmembers,andtoequipthemto overseeandcontributetoRUPAinameaningful,sustainableandeffectivemanner” TheprogramiscontextualisedtosportandbusinessgenerallybutistailoredtoRUPA throughout.Itisdeliveredonline,'lecture'freeandcontainsarangeofvideos,readings andmaterialsaswellaspertinentactivities,knowledgechecks,casestudiesand additionalresources”-DrDaveArthur
Theprogramisavailabletoanymemberwhois eitherservingontheRUPABoardorwhoisthinking ofstandingfortheseimportantpositions.On completion,allparticipantsarearmedwitha deeperknowledgeofgovernancebutmost importantlyarangeofpracticalskillsthatwillallow themtoimmediatelybetterunderstand,leadand manageRUPAandsitconfidentlyonanysimilar Board.
RUPAwasproudtohostaspecialpastplayercatch-upattheiconicTattersallsClub Sydney,bringingtogetherformerplayers,RUPApartnersandfriendstoreconnect,and rallybehindtheQueenslandRedsastheytookontheBritish&IrishLions Theevening wasfilledwithsharedstoriesandsupportasthegroupcheeredontheRedsinwhat wasagreatclash.SpecialthankstoRUPA’spartners,Tattersalls,TaylorsWineandLion Beveragesforprovidingagreatevent.EventsliketheseareakeypartofRUPA’s commitmenttostayingconnectedwithouralumniandcelebratingthelegacyofthose who’vecontributedtothegame.
LIONBEVERAGES-NEWPARTNER
INLATEJULY,RUPAUNVEILEDALANDMARKPARTNERSHIPWITHLION BEVERAGESASTHEOFFICIALBEERPARTNEROFRUPAANDSPONSOROFTHE 2025ANNUALBDORUGBYPLAYERSLUNCH
Aspartofthiscollaboration,LionbecomestheOfficialBeerPartnerofRUPAandsponsor ofthe2025AnnualBDORugbyPlayersLunch.Lionwillassumenamingrightstothe prestigious‘LionCommunityServiceAward’.Thisawardrecognisesaplayerthathas continuedtogivebacktothecommunityandgrowthegameoffthefield
LionisaleadingbeveragecompanyheadquarteredinSydney,Australia.Withorigins datingbackmorethan180years,Lionisknownforitscommitmenttoquality, craftsmanship,community,andsustainability,andrecentlybecameAustralasia’sfirst large-scalecarbonneutralbrewer.Lionisapioneerinbrewingandcontinuestoinnovate acrossarangeofadultbeverages.Itscorebeerportfolioincludesmanylocallyloved brandsinAustraliaandNewZealandsuchasXXXX,LittleCreatures,JamesSquire,Stone &Wood.
LionAustraliaManagingDirector,JamesBrindley,echoedtheexcitementaboutthe partnership:
“AtLion,we’repassionateaboutcreatingmomentsthatmeanmore,andsporthas alwaysbeenattheheartofthat.WeareincrediblyproudtobesupportingRUPAandits workinunitingtherugbycommunity,fromemergingtalenttopastplayers,andwelook forwardtoplayingaroleinthestoriesandcelebrationsof2025.”
BDO2025YEAR-ENDTAXBULLETINFOR ATHLETES
Nowthatthe2024/25financialyearhasdrawntoaclose,bothathletesandsporting organisations,shouldconsiderthekeytaxandcomplianceissuestheyneedtoattendto.
Inthisyear’sBDOYear-EndTaxBulletin,wesummarisethekeytaxmeasuresfromthe 2025FederalBudgetandimportantupdatesfromthelastfinancialyear Inaddition,we outlineongoingyear-endissuesandconsiderationsfortaxpayers.
Coveringawiderangeoftopicsthatarerelevanttoyourspecifictaxneeds,thebulletin includes:individuals,trusts,investmentandcapitalgainstax,companies,employment, taxaccountingandcompliance
TheBDO2025Year-EndTaxBulletinprovidesanoutlinetohelpmanageyourcompulsory taxcomplianceandyear-endtaxliabilities,butpleasenotethisisnotcomprehensive. Beforeactingontheinformationprovided,youshouldconsideryourindividual circumstancesandconsultyourBDOtaxadvisertoreceivetailoredadvice.
ClickbelowtoaccesstheBulletin:
TheBrainHealthService,fundedbyWorldRugby,hasbeendesignedusingindependent, scientificallyprovenexaminationtechniques.Formerplayersfilloutaninitial questionnaireandthenhaveanonlineconsultationwithatrainedbrainhealth practitionerwhowillidentifyanysignsthattheindividualmayrequireareferraltowards specialistcare.Theserviceisavailabletoanymaleandfemaleretiredplayerswhohave competedatanInternationalorSuperRugbylevel.
RUPAPLAYERRESOURCES
PLAYER DEVELOPMENT MANAGER
PDM's will provide assistance to you such as wellbeing, mental health support, career advice, transitioning, career exploration and planning etc.
Access to 6 counselling sessions per issue from Rugby AU’s Partner, TELUS Health
Download the TELUS Health One app and contact ananyab@rupa.com.au to access login details
LONDON ACADEMY OF TRADING
Access to VIP pricing for short courses, diplomas, and advanced certifications in financial trading.
To access, email ananyab@rupa.com.au
Financial planning consultations and financial health checks from RUPA's partner BDO, are delivered at VIP pricing from financial specialists.
To access, contact your PDM
HARVEY NORMAN DISCOUNT
Players have access to VIP pricing at Harvey Norman.
To access, email ananyab@rupa.com.au
ROBERT WALTERS
Access one on one career counselling with Robert Walters, in consultation with your PDM.
To access, email ananyab@rupa.com.au
RUPAPLAYERRESOURCES
MOLEMAP
All players have access to complimentary skin cancer checks, delivered by MoleMap
To access, contact your PDM
EVERYTHING MENTAL TOUGHNESS
Access to complete the MTQPlus assessment test
To access discount code, email ananyab@rupa.com.au
CARVE PRODUCTS
All players have access to VIP pricing on Carve products.
To access, email ananyab@rupa.com.au
TRAINING AND EDUCATION GRANT
All CPS and WTS players have access to up to $5000 per year. The reimbursement can be used towards approved extracurricular activities such as university courses, short courses, white cards, etc.
CAREER-ENDING INSURANCE
If you suffer a career ending injury, the insurance is there to safeguard this event
NETWORKING EVENTS
All players have access to RUPA’s professional network of industry leaders, to further create career options for life after rugby
