More Australian professional rugby players are taking the opportunity to study than ever before with a record 124 players applying for RUPA’s Training and Education (T&E) grants in 2015, a major increase from the 87 that applied for the grants last year.
As part of RUPA’s Player Development Program (PDP), the T&E grants provide all professionally contracted players, and eligible past players, access to reimbursement for approved training or education courses, once successfully completed, up to an annual limit of $5,000 each.
Amongst the current players who applied for the grants in 2015, 22 came from the NSW Waratahs, 21 from the Western Force, 17 from the Melbourne Rebels, 14 from the Brumbies and 13 from the Queensland Reds.
The grants proved popular with past players too in 2015, with 26 seeking the opportunity to assist their ongoing professional development after years committed to the rugby field.
The Australian Men’s and Women’s Sevens representatives have also continued to seek assistance for their study and development after the PDP was officially extended to the professionally contracted Australian Sevens playing group last year. In 2015, nine of the Australian Women’s Sevens and two of the Australian Men’s Sevens were successful in their application for the grants.
Amongst the courses studied, business and commerce is the most popular with approximately half of all players who applied for grants this year studying some form of business or commerce course at university, TAFE or college.
Other popular courses include law, education, sport and languages.
RUPA General Manager of Player Development, Rosemary Towner said the increase in applications each year is a positive sign that more players are recognising the importance of their education and professional development.
“The majority of players realise the need to develop outside of rugby. Our most recent research indicates that 70% of players believe it actually helps them on the field,” Rosemary said.
“Players are still usually quite young when they retire from the professional game, whether voluntarily or involuntarily, so they need something to fall back on. This is important for a number of reasons, including that it helps with their transition out of rugby, gives them something to do and provides an ongoing income.
“This is why, as part of the PDP, we provide all the support we can to ensure players are able to complete some kind of study or training off the field, whether it be organising suitable locations for uni exams, offering relevant opportunities and resources for players to undertake courses or providing assistance through the T&E grants.
“As a professional rugby player, there is very little time or resources to be able to seek and complete tertiary education or development, so this support from the PDP is crucial and, as per the record number of applications, well received amongst the playing group.”
The PDP provides financial, educational and career guidance, including welfare support and personal development courses, for professionally contracted rugby players across Australia and is strongly supported by the Australian Super Rugby teams and the ARU.
As part of the PDP, RUPA is the only Player’s Association in Australia to employ a full-time Player Development Manager at each state team.
The support offered by the PDP is introduced to players during their first year of their professional career at RUPA’s annual Induction Camp. This year’s Camp will be held next month with representatives from the five Australian Super Rugby teams and Men’s and Women’s Sevens in attendance.
