Brief
RUPA chief calls Rugby Australia’s World Cup revenue stance unacceptable
RUPA warns the stalled collective bargaining talks risk commercial boycotts as the 2027 World Cup approaches.
By Felo News Desk · Published
Rugby Union Players Association (RUPA) chief executive Adrian Turner said Rugby Australia’s refusal to share the 2027 Rugby World Cup hosting fee with players is "unacceptable", after negotiations on a new collective bargaining agreement stalled ahead of a deadline.
What happened
The current CBA, covering men’s and women’s 15s and 7s, expires on 31 October. RUPA and Rugby Australia (RA) have been in closed‑door talks for weeks, but Turner said a "significant financial gap" remains. RA’s Phil Waugh argued the body must use the Lions tour and World Cup windfalls to secure the game for future generations, while RUPA wants a larger share of the expected revenue.
What the reports add
Turner highlighted that the Super Rugby salary cap of $5.5 million per club has been effectively frozen since 2018, and that RA’s proposal would keep players out of any share of the hosting fee for the 2027 World Cup. He called that proposal "unacceptable" and urged RA to engage properly with RUPA’s alternatives.
What was said
"We have put forward alternatives to try to bring the parties closer together, including when Rugby Australia asked us to do so," Turner said in the RUPA statement, as reported by SMH. "Australian rugby has a unique financial opportunity off the back of the Lions tour and our home World Cups, which will generate significant additional revenue for the game. There remain significant issues to work through about how players share in that growth. As one example, Rugby Australia proposes that players do not share in a single dollar of the significant hosting fee it receives for the 2027 World Cup. That is unacceptable."
How it came about
The dispute follows a record $70.6 million profit posted by RA last year, with $100 million expected from the World Cup hosting joint venture with World Rugby. RUPA’s earlier 2022 agreement is due to expire, prompting the current bargaining round as the Wallabies prepare for a four‑Test tour of Britain starting 1 November.
Key facts
- RUPA chief Adrian Turner called Rugby Australia’s proposal to keep the 2027 World Cup hosting fee out of player revenue sharing unacceptable. (smh.com.au)
- The current collective bargaining agreement expires on 31 October 2026. (smh.com.au)
- Rugby Australia posted a $70.6 million profit last year and expects $100 million from the World Cup hosting joint venture. (smh.com.au)
- The Super Rugby salary cap of $5.5 million per club has been effectively frozen since 2018. (smh.com.au)
- The Wallabies begin a four‑Test tour of Britain on 1 November 2026. (smh.com.au)
Sources
- [1] smh.com.au — originally reported as “‘Unacceptable’: Players take swipe at Rugby Australia for penny-pinching”
