Rebels acknowledge player sacrifice and leadership

Wed, Apr 22, 2020, 12:34 AM
Rebels Media
by Rebels Media
Rebels fans showing their colours: Getty Images
Rebels fans showing their colours: Getty Images

After many weeks of analysis and discussion, Rugby Australia, the game’s professional players and Australia’s four Super Rugby teams have reached agreement on interim player pay reductions for the next six months.

 

Following last month’s announcements regarding the suspension of professional and community Rugby, along with reduced loads and remuneration for Rebels and Rugby Victoria staff, confirmation of these player arrangements was the last remaining financial variable in Rugby’s austerity program for the next six months.

 

With the ongoing negotiations handled primarily via RA and RUPA - the players’ union - the parties progressively worked towards a thorough and responsible deal over the last month. 

The Melbourne Rebels acknowledge that this has not been an easy time for our players and that the agreement announced yesterday represents a significant sacrifice from our contracted players. This recognition is genuine and we should not take for granted the enormous financial impost that players will now individually bear over the next six months in order to give the entire sport the greatest opportunity to survive this crisis.

Whilst the recent past has been filled with immeasurable uncertainty and heightened anxiety, the Melbourne Rebels have at all times been fortunate to have had open dialogue with our leaders - executives, coaches and players - and a very united vision to come through the other side of this crisis stronger than ever. These were sentiments that Rebels Chairman, Paul Docherty, conveyed on our Virtual Member Update last Thursday.

The recent player pay negotiations presented an unforeseen chance for Rebels fly half and Vice-Captain Matt To’omua to become a leading voice advancing the best interests of the players and the game. To’omua, a recently elected RUPA Board Director, was a consistent contributor to RUPA’s player representatives and led the Rebels players to unanimously support a deal under which he will be one of the game’s biggest losers along with Rebels skipper Dane Haylett-Petty.

To’omua says that he is pleased an agreement has been reached which provides short-term certainty for the game to begin having some broader conversations about its long-term future.

“Obviously COVID has provided a number of issues across society, and in the rugby realm our ability to generate revenue has essentially been eliminated.

“My role as a RUPA Players Board Member is to take care of my players and their well being. However we also had a duty as a collective to help the sustainability of our beautiful game.

“Whilst the deal we have struck does address some of those elements, there is plenty of work left. The best thing for our game is for us to get back on the field. I am sure the fans will agree.

“Personally, this was a tough situation as we are caring for athletes in so many different situations.

“There are young families on modest wages, kids just out of schools, or highly paid athletes with no dependants. Finding the balance between those situations was crucial, and I think we have done the best we could."

Melbourne Rebels CEO Baden Stephenson praised the leadership of To’omua and the Rebels leadership group throughout these unprecedented times.

“The relentless and wide-spread impact that this virus has had on our way of life and the sports industry has thrown a lot of us into very challenging scenarios; and none more so than for our players who, along with our staff and coaches, are personally making sacrifices for the game to survive,’ said Stephenson.

“Times of high emotion and high stress invariably reveal people’s true character. The respect, unity and sense of responsibility that our entire playing group has shown over this last month has been remarkable and I am very proud of the way our players have responded. Our leaders deserve an enormous amount of credit for that and the active role they have played in staying connected and looking out for one another.”

Leadership and stability haven’t always been a currency that the Rebels have been endowed with in the Club’s short history. Indeed, Stephenson acknowledges that this has been a focus and work-on within the Club over the last 18 months.

The Rebels have invested more specifically in leadership growth over the last couple of years to support its leading players develop the skills and attributes that will allow them to flourish as leaders.

It’s still very much a “work in progress” according to Stephenson but believes that Rebels fans would have seen a new composure and control in the side’s three wins of the season. The Rebels wins against the Highlanders in Dunedin and the Lions in Melbourne were both 80 minute performances, whilst the win in the wet against the Waratahs – to regain the Weary Dunlop Shield for the first time in four years – was worthy for the celebration of the Club’s 10th season in Super Rugby that night.

“Having a tight support support network to learn off was also helpful,” stated To’omua when considering the negotiation process.

“Our Rebels CEO and Chairman were both very helpful for me during this, as were some past players.

“Our RUPA support team was amazing, and without them we wouldn’t have been able to cater for over 190 athletes in the way we have.”

The players – via RUPA – have been particularly vocal in the last few weeks regarding their concern for the long-term financial status of Rugby in Australia. RUPA now has a full picture of the game’s finances and has immediately shifted focus towards a “root and branch” review of proposed strategies and structures for the future.

“We are lucky in Rugby that we have a strong player’s union that is looking out for the athletes. Many other industries do not have that luxury, so we are thankful to those players and administrators who have set out game up in the past for us to be protected during this time,” stated To’omua.

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