Historic move for Australian women’s rugby

Its a historic move for the RUPA and Australia become one of the few associations to extend its membership to womens players.

Since its inception in 1995, RUPA has provided its members with two main areas of support services; workplace representation and advice; and the personal and career development programme, which is a joint initiative with the Australian Rugby Union.

RUPAs Constitution until this week, only allowed membership for the mens Super Rugby, Sevens and Academy players.

Now players from the Australian womens national Sevens and Fifteens programmes will have access to RUPAs services.

The proposal to extend RUPAs membership was raised by current Wallaby Captain, David Pocock, at last years RUPA AGM.

Greg Harris, CEO of RUPA applauded the members decision. Shortly after the meeting he said, This is a very significant day in the history of RUPA, and for womens rugby in Australia.

There is no doubt that the profile of womens rugby is constantly growing. With the ever increasing professionalism of the Sevens world tour and now with the inclusion of the Sevens in the 2016 Olympics, it is important that our national players have access to the support and representation that RUPA can provide.

The news of the motion passing was welcomed by two greats of Australian womens rugby, Cheryl Soon and Alex Hargreaves.

Soon, the Captain of the Australian team that took out the inaugural Womens Rugby World Cup Sevens title in 2009 and a recent appointment to the Rugby Committee of the International Rugby Board (IRB) said That the players are now able to be supported as aspiring professionals by RUPA is fantastic news for all current and future female Australian Rugby representatives.

For RUPA to recognise Australias female rugby representatives and to have the matter advocated by the Wallaby Captain, David Pocock, is very inspirational for the players.

Hargreaves, a veteran of over ten years as a Wallaroo and Sevens representative, which included four World Cups including the successful 2009 campaign - was equally excited by the decision.

Pursuing a playing career as a woman in rugby is extremely difficult, particularly trying to juggle a job with training commitments and travel. Having a better framework for the players to receive appropriate entitlements and support is a significant step forward.

Its fantastic news that the RUPA membership is aware of the struggle that the girls go through. They really put their lives on hold to play for Australia and this decision is a positive step in promoting equality for men and women in Rugby.

The womens playing group is aware of the great work that RUPA has done for many years for the mens Rugby players, and we are really excited now that we are entitled to be members of RUPA she said.