MyPlayers

MyPlayers is a South African rugby players' organisation that represents professional rugby players and contracted match officials. It was established in 1997 under the name South African Rugby Players' Association, or SARPA, during the period when South African rugby was adapting to professional competition. The organisation's central role is collective representation: it engages with SA Rugby, provincial unions, and other rugby-industry stakeholders on employment conditions, player welfare, commercial rights, and the broader sustainability of professional rugby careers. The organisation operates as a member-governed body rather than as a conventional consumer brand or publicly listed company. Its members participate in its decision-making structures, giving MyPlayers a representative and labour-relations function. Its work includes negotiating and contributing to collective agreements covering player contracts, salaries, insurance, employment protections, rest periods, scheduling, and support during and after playing careers. It has also advocated for practical conditions affecting players, including travel standards on international tours and policies intended to manage workloads. MyPlayers' history includes labour negotiations with South African rugby authorities. A significant set of negotiations in 2004 addressed player contracts and remuneration. At various points, the organisation has indicated that strike action could be used to defend player rights, reflecting its role as a players' association rather than merely an advisory or promotional body. It has also participated in the development and updating of the South African Rugby Industry Collective Agreement, commonly referred to as SARICA. That framework addresses employment conditions, insurance arrangements, and post-retirement transition support. The organisation's remit expanded beyond the narrower identity implied by SARPA when it adopted the MyPlayers name. The rebrand signalled a broader focus on player representation, welfare, commercial representation, and support across different forms of rugby. MyPlayers has been associated with representation covering men's fifteens, women's rugby, and sevens, including through its annual Players' Choice Awards. These awards are voted on by players and recognise achievements across several playing formats. During the COVID-19 pandemic, MyPlayers worked with SA Rugby and other stakeholders on the Rugby Industry Financial Impact Plan. The initiative addressed the severe revenue disruption affecting professional rugby and sought to protect employment stability for players. The organisation has also participated in welfare-oriented initiatives with outside bodies, including the Chris Burger Petro Jackson Players' Fund, which supports players affected by serious injury and helps address post-career needs. Player health has become an increasingly visible part of MyPlayers' work. The organisation has shared information concerning anxiety, sleep disorders, and other mental-health pressures experienced by professional rugby players in South Africa. These concerns have supported calls for stronger mental-health services, better workload management, and more comprehensive welfare protections. In 2022, former Springbok captain Jean de Villiers became chairperson of the board, while Eugene Henning was identified as chief executive officer. MyPlayers therefore combines trade-union-style collective bargaining with welfare advocacy, commercial representation, recognition programmes, and support for athletes throughout and beyond their playing careers.

MyPlayers was established in South Africa in 1997 as the South African Rugby Players' Association, commonly abbreviated as SARPA. Its formation followed the professionalisation of rugby in the country and created a dedicated body through which professional players could address employment, remuneration, welfare, and representation issues. Rather than operating as a commercial sports brand, the organisation developed as a member-governed representative institution for players and contracted match officials. In its early and subsequent work, SARPA engaged with SA Rugby and provincial unions on the terms under which professional rugby was played and administered. Collective bargaining became a central activity. Negotiations in 2004 addressed player contracts and salaries, and the organisation has at times threatened strike action in support of player rights. These activities established its role in the labour relations of South African rugby and distinguished it from bodies focused solely on marketing, competition administration, or player development. The organisation later adopted the MyPlayers name. The change reflected an expanded mandate beyond the narrower association identity of SARPA. MyPlayers continued to participate in collective bargaining while placing greater emphasis on welfare, commercial representation, insurance, player protection, and career transition. It has contributed to the development and revision of the South African Rugby Industry Collective Agreement, or SARICA, which covers employment conditions, insurance policies, and support for players approaching or entering life after professional sport. The organisation has also advocated for improved travel conditions during international tours and for rules concerning salary structures, scheduling, rest, and workload. MyPlayers' remit encompasses different forms of the sport, including men's fifteens, women's rugby, and sevens. Its annual Players' Choice Awards provide a player-voted recognition platform with categories for leading performers in those formats. The awards complement the organisation's labour and welfare functions by giving players a role in recognising achievement within their own professional community. The COVID-19 pandemic created an acute financial and employment challenge for rugby. MyPlayers worked with SA Rugby and other stakeholders on the Rugby Industry Financial Impact Plan, an effort intended to manage falling revenues and preserve employment stability. This involvement demonstrated the organisation's role in industry-wide planning as well as in direct representation of members. Welfare and post-career support have remained important themes. MyPlayers has worked with organisations including the Chris Burger Petro Jackson Players' Fund to support players affected by injury and those facing transition after their playing careers. It has also drawn attention to mental-health concerns among professional rugby players, including anxiety and sleep disorders, using these concerns to advocate for better services and more responsible workload management. In 2022, former Springbok captain Jean de Villiers was appointed chairperson of the board. Eugene Henning is identified as the organisation's chief executive officer. In its current form, MyPlayers combines the functions of a professional players' association, collective-bargaining representative, welfare advocate, and player-support organisation within South African rugby.

• 2022

  Jean de Villiers becomes board chairperson

  [1]MyPlayersen.wikipedia.org

  Former Springbok captain Jean de Villiers was appointed chairperson of the MyPlayers board.

• 2004

  Player contract and salary negotiations

  [1]MyPlayersen.wikipedia.org

  SARPA participated in important negotiations addressing professional player contracts and salaries.

• 1997

  South African Rugby Players' Association established

  [1]MyPlayersen.wikipedia.org

  The organisation was established as SARPA following the professionalisation of rugby in South Africa.

A member-governed South African rugby players' organisation focused on collective bargaining, professional representation, welfare, and long-term career support.

• Professional player representation · 1997

  Collective bargaining and representation

  MyPlayers represents professional rugby players and contracted match officials in discussions with SA Rugby and provincial unions. Its collective-bargaining work covers contracts, salaries, employment conditions, scheduling, rest requirements, salary-cap policy, and other workplace issues affecting professional rugby.

• Welfare services

  Player welfare and career transition support

  The organisation advocates for insurance protections, injury support, mental-health services, workload management, and assistance for players moving into post-retirement careers. It also collaborates with external organisations supporting injured players and people navigating life after professional sport.

• Player awards

  Players' Choice Awards

  The annual Players' Choice Awards are voted on by players and recognise achievements across men's fifteens, men's sevens, and women's rugby. The programme gives members a direct role in celebrating leading performers across South African professional rugby.

• Rugby Industry Financial Impact Plan

  South Africa

  During the COVID-19 pandemic, MyPlayers worked with SA Rugby and other rugby stakeholders on an industry response to falling revenues and the risk of employment disruption.

  Outcome. The plan was intended to support employment stability and help the professional rugby industry manage the pandemic's financial effects.

  Source
• Players' Choice Awards

  South Africa

  MyPlayers hosts a player-voted awards programme spanning men's fifteens, men's sevens, and women's rugby.

  Outcome. The awards provide peer recognition for players across multiple South African rugby formats.

  Source
• Player welfare and mental-health advocacy

  South Africa

  MyPlayers has raised concerns about anxiety, sleep disorders, workload, injury, and the need for stronger support systems for professional rugby players.

  Outcome. The advocacy has contributed to calls for improved mental-health services and more sustainable player workloads.

  Source

• 2004

  Negotiated player contracts and salariesStrategy

  Background

  As the players' representative body, SARPA engaged in negotiations concerning the employment terms and remuneration of professional rugby players.

  Action taken

  The organisation negotiated on contracts and salaries and used the possibility of industrial action as leverage for player rights.

  Aftermath

  The negotiations formed part of MyPlayers' broader role in South African rugby labour relations.

  Source

• Participation in the South African Rugby Industry Collective AgreementStrategy

  Background

  Professional players require common rules covering employment conditions, insurance, welfare, and support during the transition out of playing.

  Action taken

  MyPlayers participated in the development and updating of SARICA with rugby-industry stakeholders.

  Aftermath

  The agreement provides a framework for employment and welfare issues affecting professional rugby participants.

  Source

• COVID-19 industry responseStrategy

  Background

  The pandemic reduced rugby revenues and threatened employment stability for professional players.

  Action taken

  MyPlayers collaborated with SA Rugby and other stakeholders on the Rugby Industry Financial Impact Plan.

  Aftermath

  The plan sought to manage the financial shock and protect employment within the rugby industry.

  Source

1. 1MyPlayersen.wikipedia.org
2. 2MyPlayers official websitemyplayers.co.za