Professional rugby players in South Africa will continue to operate under a new collective agreement that strengthens employment standards and player welfare.
The two-and-a-half-year South African Rugby Industry Collective Agreement (SARICA) was negotiated by MyPlayers, SA Rugby and the South African Rugby Employers’ Organisation (SAREO), which represents provincial unions and franchises.
The agreement establishes minimum conditions for professional players across the country, from Springboks through to age-group and development squads.
It covers remuneration, medical benefits, disability insurance, concussion protocols, workload management, salary caps and annual leave protections.
“SARICA is the foundation on which all rugby players are contracted,” said SAREO chairperson Ettienne de Lange.
“It ensures minimum standards of remuneration and employment for professional players, both men and women and is the default document for any player entering the profession.”
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Player welfare remains a key focus, with MyPlayers CEO Eugene Henning highlighting the challenge of managing workloads in a South African season that runs throughout the year.
“Load management – of training and playing – is one of the cornerstones of player welfare and particularly complex in a South African rugby season that runs for 12 months,” Henning said.
The agreement provides for a minimum of 12 non-contact weeks per contract year, including five weeks of annual leave, while the remaining time can include bye weeks, rehabilitation, travel periods or parental leave.
Henning said the regulations reflect World Rugby’s view that individualised load management is the “gold standard” approach to player welfare.
SA Rugby CEO Rian Oberholzer added that SARICA “balances the interests of everyone in the industry” by setting consistent employment and welfare standards for professional rugby in South Africa.
Photo: Gallo Images
The post Key SA roleplayers strike new player deal appeared first on SA Rugby magazine.
Professional rugby players in South Africa will continue to operate under a new collective agreement that strengthens employment standards and player welfare.
The post Key SA roleplayers strike new player deal appeared first on SA Rugby magazine. Read More
