The Rugby Union Players' Association (RUPA) is pleased to announce the appointment of Tom Symonds as Chief Operating Officer (COO).
Tom joins RUPA after eight years at the Rugby League Players Association (RLPA), initially as Player Operations Manager and, most recently, as General Manager of Past Players and Transition. A former professional rugby league player, Tom moved into the player association movement with the RLPA shortly after finishing his own playing career, and spent almost a decade working directly with current and past players across some of the most significant periods in the game, including the NRL and NRLW's most recent CBA negotiations.
Tom has a degree in Exercise Physiology and completed further postgraduate study at the Australian Graduate School of Management (AGSM), bringing a combination of playing credibility, player engagement expertise, high performance and player health knowledge, and the operational capability to design and run programmes in professional sport.
As COO, Tom will oversee RUPA’s player engagement, commercial operations, and have broad involvement in all aspects of RUPA’s core member services, acting as a critical liaison between the playing group and the association across each membership cohort. Tom said:
“I’m super excited to join RUPA at such an important time for the organisation and our members. I hope my experience and genuine passion for supporting players, will help make a meaningful impact. I look forward to getting to know our members, representing them and driving positive outcomes. I can’t wait to get started.”
RUPA CEO Adrian Turner said Tom’s appointment brings a unique skillset to the organisation.
"Tom brings a rare combination of credibility with professional athletes through his own playing career, a player-led approach to how he works, and a proven track record of leadership in building the kind of member engagement programmes that make a real difference for the playing group. Having worked closely with Tom at the RLPA, I've seen firsthand what that work can do for an association's relationship with its members, and I couldn't be more pleased to have him joining the team at this point in RUPA's journey."
