PLAYERS' CONTRACT NEGOTIATIONS:EMPLOYER/WORKER teething difficulties are hardly unique to Irish rugby, but 13 years into the professional game and almost seven years since the formation of the Irish Rugby Union Players' Association, the latter remain distinctly at odds with the IRFU.
At the core of the problem is an ongoing feeling that the union retains many of the old amateur attitudes toward professional players, something that would have been reinforced by the contractual "high season" from January to June last season. Hence, after direct consultation with over 20 of the players, Irupa chief executive Niall Woods formally wrote to the IRFU chief executive Philip Browne outlining their grievances last April. The union's only written response thus far has been the formal acknowledgement of receipt of the letter.
Last week, as the players' representative on the IRFU's representative committee, Woods addressed the committee's first meeting of the season to outline the work Irupa does for the players, following a presentation by Hamish Adams on his first six months spearheading the association's player-services programme.
Adams's first six months have been an eye-opener, 45 of Irupa's near-150 membership availing of the opportunity to work with him.
Post-playing-career guidance is the only aspect of Irupa's work the union part funds, and Woods cites it as an example of the improved working relationship between the two bodies.
Uppermost among the players' concerns is that player contracts are allowed to enter their final year before the union enter into renegotiations.
Nor are the players enamoured of the union sometimes changing representatives in talks during negotiations with different employees.
Furthermore, the players are frustrated that the provinces cannot make decisions on some contracts without the approval of the union's controversial players' advisory group. This, they assert, has been "a critical factor" in at least one player leaving the country to play abroad.
While the union have demonstrated a praiseworthy sense of loyalty in renewing the contracts of, say, injured players, Irupa have recommended to the union they "revisit" their existing method of contracting players, and in particular put in place a director of recruitment (or similar role) who would specialise in this area.
"The players are the union's primary asset and they need to have somebody whose role is dedicated to dealing with them," says Woods.
Nor can Irupa fathom why provinces can supplement provincial players' contracts or those for overseas players yet are not permitted to do so for those in their squad on international contracts. Similarly, there is inconsistency in that the IRFU will pay the fees of some agents but not of others.
