RUPA wants a new revenue-sharing deal ahead of the 2027 Rugby World Cup and higher spending on players. The current collective agreement expires on Oct. 31.
Negotiations on a new collective bargaining agreement between the Rugby Union Players’ Association (RUPA) and Rugby Australia (RA) have stalled less than a month before the existing agreement expires. RUPA chief executive Adrian Turner called RA’s proposal not to share revenue from the 2027 Rugby World Cup with players “unacceptable.” The current agreement, signed in 2022, expires on Oct. 31.
The union is seeking a substantial increase in spending on players at every level and a review of the Super Rugby salary cap, which Turner said has effectively been frozen since 2018 at 5.5 million Australian dollars per club. RUPA said a significant financial gap remains and urged the governing body to engage with its proposals.
Turner said the 2027 home World Cup and other major events would bring significant additional revenue to Australian rugby. The SMH reported that Rugby Australia will receive about 100 million Australian dollars for co-hosting the tournament with World Rugby; the governing body reported a record 70.6 million Australian dollar profit in 2025.
Rugby Australia chief executive Phil Waugh said the organization must consider the long-term future of the sport and has proposed raising its minimum player-spending commitment from 29% to 32% of revenue. The proposals also include higher minimum salaries, expanding the professional women’s rugby program and increasing full-time contracts for women. Players may be able to boycott commercial appearances and sponsor duties after the agreement expires, although contractual obligations mean a strike before the end of the season is not a realistic prospect.