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. The Chief Executive Officer is Simon Keogh and Peter O'Mahony is its current President. Its headquarters are in Clonskeagh in Dublin.

Objectives The associations objectives are:- To promote and protect the welfare of its members, both during and after their careers. To cater for the educational and welfare needs of its members, to ensure that they have sufficient preparation for the life after rugby. To work in partnership with the IRFU to further the cause of Rugby Union in Ireland. To be the representative mouthpiece for professional rugby players on issues of importance to the game.

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. This includes bringing industrial action if necessary.

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.

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.

In 2013, Rob Kearney would be elected as Chairman. Kearney would remain in the position until 2021 when he stepped down as Chairman.

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

Executive Board President/Chairman: Peter O'Mahony Chief Executive Officer: Simon Keogh Women's Rugby Rep: Enya Breen Men's 7s Rep: Billy Dardis Women's 7s Rep: Amee-Leigh Costigan Connacht Rugby Rep: Dave Heffernan Leinster Rugby Rep: Garry Ringrose Ulster Rugby Rep: Iain Henderson Non-Executive Director: Maura Quinn Non-Executive Director: Peter McKenna Non-Executive Director: Ciarán Medlar

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. 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 Player Team 2003 Malcolm O'Kelly Leinster 2004 Gordon D'Arcy Leinster 2005 Johnny O'Connor London Wasps 2006 Paul O'Connell Munster 2007 Gordon D'Arcy Leinster 2008 Tommy Bowe Ulster 2009 Brian O'Driscoll Leinster 2010 Tommy Bowe * Ospreys 2011 Isa Nacewa Leinster 2012 Rob Kearney Leinster 2013 Nick Williams Ulster 2014 Andrew Trimble Ulster 2015 Paul O'Connell Munster 2016 CJ Stander Munster 2017 Conor Murray Munster 2018 Keith Earls Munster 2019 James Ryan Leinster 2020 Garry Ringrose Leinster"Ringrose And Moloney Win Player Of The Year Awards", Irish Rugby, 17 October 2020 2021 Robbie Henshaw Leinster"Henshaw And Wall Win Irish Players’ Player Of The Year Awards", Irish Rugby, 3 December 2021 2022 Josh van der Flier Leinster"Josh van der Flier and Sam Monaghan voted Players of the Year by Irish-rugby peers", The 42, 18 May 2022 2023 Caelan Doris Leinster2024Bundee AkiConnacht2025Tadhg BeirneMunster2026Stuart McCloskeyUlster"McCloskey And Moloney-MacDonald Take Top Honours At Rugby Players Ireland Awards", Irish Rugby, 20 May 2026

* Tommy Bowe was also awarded the 2010 WRPA Players' Player of the Year Award.

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: 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 Miller2024Donnacha O'Callaghan & Marcus Horan & Lynne Cantwell2025Jamie Heaslip & Stephen Ferris & Claire Molloy

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. The Rugby Players Ireland annual awards dinner is also a major part of its fundraising activity. 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 Rugby Players' Association (England) Rugby Union Players' Association (Australia) Welsh Rugby Players Association

References

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