In an update from the PPF’s legal advisors Mills & Reeve, we look at the career-ending consequences players can face if they test positive for banned substances from unintentional contamination.
Eleven Jump jockeys have taken advantage of the latest Jockey Ambassador training programme provided by the PJA and JETS to help jockeys enhance their profile, engage successfully with a range of media and maximise commercial opportunities.
In this ‘Staff Spotlight’, Richard Bryan, RPA Player Welfare Director, talks us through his experiences working at a Player Association and how he will use this in his new role as a PPF Director.
The PPF are pleased to announce the election of Richard Bryan as a Director following its recent Annual General Meeting. Richard is Player Welfare Director at the Rugby Players Association.
The World Professional Billiards and Snooker Association (WPBSA) has today announced that Ben Woollaston has joined its Governance Board as a non-executive director with immediate effect.
With the recent announcement of the new 'Australian Darts Association' the PDPA have appointed a new PDPA Oceanic Rep - James Bailey.
The LMA is pleased to announce the new ‘What Does Football Mean?’ Film, which was officially launched at the 33rd LMA Annual Awards in May.
The Professional Footballers’ Association (PFA) has appointed Charmaine Carmichael and Alan Gilpin as Independent Non-Executive Directors (INEDs), further strengthening the union’s leadership.
Heather Knight has decided to step down as Vice Chair of the PCA following five years in the role, representing player views and progressing standards for professional cricketers in England and Wales.
The RPA Players’ Board has met in London and approved a proposal to add Premiership Women’s Rugby player representatives to its' Players’ Board from the 2025/26 season.
The PFA announced the return of its hugely successful PFA pre-season camp for unsigned players, which last year helped over 100 players sign new deals with clubs.
The Professional Jockeys Association has released a series of short films highlighting the range of mental wellbeing support available to jockeys and former jockeys from across the racing industry.
The second LMA and LCA Annual Technical Performance Masterclass, designed to provide peer-to-peer insight and practical expertise, took place on April 23rd at St George's Park.
The latest Staff Spotlight is with former Ospreys forward Lloyd Ashley who joined the WRPA as their Mental Health & Wellbeing Lead and combines this with his PDM role at Ospreys.
Professional women’s cricketers in England and Wales are overwhelming positive about the transition into Professional Counties, after the PCA visited all eight of the women’s Tier 1 Professional Counties ahead of the new season.
JETS has announced that its General Manager Lisa Delany is to step down from her role in September. She joined JETS in 2002 and under her leadership JETS has helped over 1,200 jockeys with career development.
The PPF is pleased renew its partnership with Pro Sport Wealth. Through their team of Chartered Financial Planners who are also former professional sportspeople, Pro Sport Wealth provides a bespoke, specialist service to professional sportspeople guiding them on the path to long term financial security.
The WCA has released its report: Protecting History, Embracing Change. A Unified Coherent Global Future. The Report is the culmination of a six month review of cricket’s global structure with contributions from the PCA President and former England captain Eoin Morgan, alongside Chief Executive Daryl Mitchell, PCA Vice Chair and former England captain Heather Knight and former England white-ball captain Jos Buttler.
Following the announcement of the Men’s Professional Game Partnership at the start of the season, the RPAY, Restart (the Players Charity), Premiership Rugby and the RFU are pleased to announce that the Elite Player Support Fund has been officially launched.
A new research study by the PFA is investigating the prevalence of neurodiversity in current professional players in England to help establish a better understanding of their experiences in elite football.
The PCA has released a groundbreaking Women’s Impact Report ‘Accelerating Action for Players’ at an event to celebrate International Women’s Day, which is marked on Saturday 8 March.
The PFA has welcomed proposed changes to the Football Governance Bill which will see a new Independent Football Regulator (IFR) directed to co-operate and engage with players.
PCA members came together for the Annual General Meeting which saw the official induction of Warwickshire bowler Olly Hannon-Dalby as the new PCA Chair.
A historic PCA Rookie Camp inducted a record 69 players prior to the start of the 2025 domestic season with the event including a specific welcome to the new women’s professionals.
The Rugby Players Association (RPA) is excited to announce the launch of a pioneering apprenticeship programme designed to support both players and non-playing staff.
The RPA and Premiership Rugby are pleased to announce that the Professional Rugby Board (PRB) has approved a new Fixed Academy Wage for full-time Premiership Rugby rookie players.
As netball embarks on its journey to professionalisation the NPA is pleased to share its Strategic Plan 2025-2028 which ensures that the players voice is heard and remains integral to future planning, and that players are properly supported and rewarded for the part they play in growing the popularity and commercial success of the sport.
Daryl Mitchell has been confirmed as the permanent Chief Executive of the PCA, following six months in an interim position. The former Worcestershire batter takes up the role immediately and extends his connection with the PCA, following his most recent position as Chief Operating Officer.
Our latest Committee Focus is on Education and Training with a Q&A with Vice Chair Marcia Bailey who is the Technical Lead & Senior Performance Lifestyle Coach at the UK Sports Institute.
The PPF has funded a unique Vulnerability and Integrity education programme for Welsh rugby players. Delivered by Tim Jones and Phil Davies from Professional Together, senior squads and academies have attended sessions throughout December and January.
The Rugby Players Association (RPA) is delighted to announce a collaboration with The Open University (OU), designed to provide elite players with unparalleled access to flexible distance learning opportunities and support.
The leading jockeys in Britain, on the Flat and over Jumps, have been honoured at the Lesters Awards 2024, in association with World Pool, in front of an audience of over 300 guests at Newbury Racecourse.
The NPA is pleased to announce the appointment of Vicki Oyesola and Alex Johnson as Vice Chairs of the Player Representative Committee. Vicki and Alex will join player Chair Ella Clark as part of the Board to keep the player’s voice at the heart of the NPA.
The 2024 PCA Futures Awards, in association with Lodders Solicitors, has been won by The Blaze batter Marie Kelly for her innovative business venture focusing on sports caps designed specifically for female athletes.
Former Essex fast bowler Aaron Beard is the recipient of the inaugural PCA Inclusion Award for his crucial role in Essex’s various initiatives including supporting various disability programmes, empowering girls and children from lower socio-economic background to take up the sport.
The Rugby Players Association (RPA) have announced Harry Thacker & Jake Woolmore of Bristol Bears as the worthy recipients of this season’s first Vodafone Business Gain Line Award for their Wellness business created in 2023.
With James Harris’ four-year stint as Chair coming to an end, the PCA has already started the quest to find a new leader to represent cricketers in England & Wales in a vital role in off-field negotiations with the ECB and key stakeholders.
Following the first RPA Players’ Board meeting of the season, the RPA is delighted to announce that Ruaridh McConnochie has been elected as RPA Chair, with Freddie Clarke taking on the role of Vice Chair. The RPA is excited about the leadership and collaboration Ruaridh and Freddie will bring to the Players’ Board.
PCA Futures Week has explored career progression stories from the PCA membership, as players look to enhance their personal development. The flagship event of Futures Week is always the PCA Futures Conference, where players are given the opportunity to learn from industry experts and put those skills into practice.
A new collaboration ‘Under Jockeys’ Orders,’ between Newbury Racecourse, the Professional Jockeys Association and Great British Racing, aims to celebrate leading British jump jockeys on Saturday 30th November with Coral Gold Cup Day at Newbury Racecourse to become the most jockey-centric National Hunt meeting ever hosted.
Players from across the PCA membership were invited to HAYS Recruitment for a CV and Interview Skills Workshop. The workshop, hosted by HAYS Managing Director Chetan Petal, aimed to assist players in preparing for what they want to pursue as a career after their playing days finish.
Former Conditional jockey, Sam Welton (34) has won the top prize at the 2024 JETS Richard Davis Awards. Held at Warwick Racecourse, the annual awards highlight the career development of both former jockeys and current jockeys and showcase the services available to Professional Jockeys Association members to help prepare for their futures in order to secure a successful transition from riding.
The PFA have confirmed the thirteen players who have been elected by fellow members to be part of the union’s Players’ Board which acts as the ‘voice of the changing room’ in the running of the PFA and includes ten current members.
PPF Communications Committee Chair Luke Reynolds joined the PCA in 2013 initially in the role as Social Media Executive. He has since progressed working across all departments and now leads a team of four as Head of Communications. We look at the key priorities and challenges and how the Communications Committee is working together to develop best practice and increase knowledge and collaboration between members.
The PCA Players’ Committee, alongside further playing members have met in Paris at the PCA Summit to discuss topical issues in the men’s and women’s game across England and Wales. Following the conclusion of the 2024 season, players were invited to attend the three-day event to deliberate on the current cricketing landscape and asked to divulge the opinions of their respective dressing rooms.
Surveys conducted by the PFA over the 2023/24 season reveal that two-thirds of players say the fear of injury can have a detrimental effect on their mental wellbeing. Professional footballers, particularly those who spend a career on short, fixed-term contracts, fear that a significant injury could have a potentially devastating impact on their careers and long-term financial stability.
On World Mental Health Day, Kate Cross has penned a blog detailing her experiences with anxiety and why she believes the mental health campaign launched by the PCA and Sporting Chance is so important for current and former cricketers.
Frances Kitching retired from professional football prior to the 2024/25 season and has now taken on a dual role supporting the women’s football and EDI divisions at the players’ union. Kitching led a successful career in the WSL and Women’s Championship for over a decade, representing Sheffield United, Liverpool, Chelsea, Watford, and most recently Crystal Palace.
The PFA hosted former players, clubs, and league representatives at its Manchester HQ for an afternoon focused on sharing best practice for supporting players with neurodegenerative diseases.
The Professional Jockeys Association has announced that British horseracing’s ‘Oscars’ for professional jockeys, the annual Lesters awards, in association with World Pool, will be held in front of an audience for the first time since 2018 at Newbury Racecourse on Sunday 22nd December.
In partnership with Healix Health and the UK's largest healthcare charity, Nuffield Health, the WRPA is currently benefitting retired and retiring players through a recently launched Player Transition Programme. By giving them access to Nuffield Health's first-class healthcare in South Wales and gym facilities throughout the UK, the aim is to support players to be ‘life, work and sport ready’ when transitioning to the next stage of their life.
The Rugby Football Union, Premiership Rugby and The Rugby Players Association have co-created a new Men’s Professional Game Partnership (MPGP) after 18 months of collaboration. The eight-year partnership aims to create world-beating English teams and thriving professional leagues with players and fans at the heart of it.
The PCA has announced a new partnership with OFX. From 2025, OFX, a specialist in foreign exchange for businesses and individuals, will become the title partner of the PCA Most Valuable Player (MVP) Rankings. As the new Foreign Exchange Partner, OFX will offer expert guidance and support to professional cricketers on maximising their overseas earnings.
Senior Academy players from Premiership Rugby clubs met for an introduction to the elite game on Wednesday 21st August at The Rugby School, for the annual RPA Academy Induction Day with 70 players learning what it entails to become an elite rugby player.
As part of South Asian Heritage Month, England spinner Shoaib Bashir was one of a number of PCA members to benefit from receiving a PCA branded prayer mat as mentioned in the Under The Lid podcast. The main aim of the awareness campaign is to celebrate South Asian cultures, histories and communities to the UK with South Asia.
The PPF was pleased to support the second WPBSA annual Player Support Programme for new and returning players to the World Snooker Tour with education on a range of important issues including sports betting integrity, snookers rules and regulations, social media, mental wellbeing, and financial management.
The PFA's Director of Equality, Diversity and Inclusion Simone Pound has chaired the PPF’s EDI Committee since it was formed in 2023. Following the recent PPF Inclusion In Sport Week, we caught up with her to find out more about her work and the priorities for the EDI Committee.
The Professional Jockeys Association has partnered with the National Trainers Federation to offer an abuse reporting service for jockeys. Through the support and advice offered by the service already to trainers, numerous individuals have been traced, warned and not reoffended and there are three current live police investigations.
The RPA is pleased to announce that Rachael Burford will be joining the RPA, leading the Women's Rugby Department as the domestic game thrives in Premiership Women's Rugby and as we head towards the Women's Rugby World Cup in 2025.
Brendon Batson OBE, the chair of the Professional Players Federation and long-time anti-racism campaigner, today called for leaders in sport to up their game to promote inclusion and ensure that the we learn from the experiences of former players so that we stop missing out on talent and ensure everyone has the chance to excel in their chosen sport.
The Professional Players Federation (PPF) will be hosting its first Inclusion in Sport week from July 1st to 7th 2024 with cross sport contributions to panel discussions on Active Allyship and Inclusive Leadership . Working with members, the PPF will be sharing players’ personal stories, delivering education and promoting best practice to make professional sport more inclusive.
The PFA has today joined a legal case which will seek to challenge the structures of the current football calendar by enforcing the legal rights of players to take guaranteed and protected breaks. The PFA are co-claimants in the case, which has been placed before the Belgian courts, alongside the French players’ union (UNFP) and supported by FIFPRO Europe.
PFA Scotland welcome in the introduction of permanent concussion substitutes across all senior SPFL competitions. PFA Scotland, alongside FIFPRO, have been pushing for more support in this area over recent years.
The PCA has recently hit a landmark of surpassing EDI education delivery to 750 current professional and academy players in its tailormade ‘Learn Before Wicket’ (LBW) programme. Players have engaged with the sessions that were developed following the request for more EDI education through PCA member surveys.
England Rugby have confirmed the 32 Red Roses players under contract for the 2024/25 season. Maddie Feaunati (Exeter Chiefs), who earned five international caps in the 2024 Guinness Women’s Six Nations, has been awarded her maiden full-time England contract, as has two-time capped prop Liz Crake (Trailfinders Women).
Findings from a first-of-its kind study into Snus use in professional football have been published by the PFA and Loughborough University. Snus is a smokeless nicotine product which has been associated with various health conditions in the general population, though to date no research had explored its specific use in football.
The PFA has announced details of a new 10-week residential pre-season camp for out-of-contract players. Designed to provide players with an elite club pre-season environment, the pre-season camps will be hosted by the PFA and made available to unsigned players from the men’s and women’s games.
Following the release of the latest mental health stats in cricket, the Professional Cricketers’ Association (PCA) and Sporting Chance have, today, as part of Mental Health Awareness Week, announced the launch of a thought-provoking campaign that addresses the rising rates of anxiety in professional cricket.
The PPF will be hosting its first Inclusion in Sport week from July 1st – 7th. Working in collaboration with our member associations, the PPF will hearing players’ personal stories of the effects of discrimination, running education and promoting best practice to make professional sport more inclusive.
The PCA has today revealed the majority of professional men’s players in England and Wales feel the congested county cricket schedule is not fit for purpose and are concerned for their mental and physical wellbeing.
FIFPRO, the Professional Footballers Association, Nike, and Leeds Beckett University are collaborating to accelerate research into reducing Anterior Cruciate Ligament (ACL) injuries and increasing player availability.
Players past and present involved in the PFA’s Asian Inclusion Mentoring Scheme (AIMS) attended the union’s fourth annual Player Development Day hosted at Leicester City FC’s training ground, the King Power Centre.
The second in a series of Staff Spotlight Q&A features, we chat to the RPA Senior Personal Development Manager for England Women, Lynsey Hyslop who is currently based with the team in camp whilst they continue their Six Nations campaign.
Throughout the year we'll be taking a deeper look at various PPF Committees and key benefits and priorities with input from the Committee Chair. In this Committee Focus we look at the world leading Wellbeing services the PFA offer and the broad range of work that player associations do in supporting players with their emotional wellbeing.
PCA research shows female cricketers need clarity over minimum standards as they strive for equity. The PCA has completed its pre-season meetings with all professional domestic women’s squads this week, with players directing a clear mandate to lobby the game for regulated employment terms across both men’s and women’s professional teams.
The PFA has announced the appointment of former Lioness Louise Newstead as its new Head of Coach Development. Alongside her work on the pitch, she will be responsible for leading knowledge exchange with the game’s domestic and international stakeholders on all areas of coaching and technical development.
Wales' four professional rugby regions have proudly announced Second Half Rugby as the official charity for this year’s Judgement Day event on June 1st, aiming to raise crucial funds and awareness for Second Half Rugby – the esteemed charity of the Welsh Rugby Players Association (WRPA).
The PCA hosted their first International Women’s Day event #InspireInclusion at the Kia Oval yesterday, Thursday 7 March, in collaboration with Surrey CCC and South East Stars.
Last month, coaches and coach educators from across the country gathered at St George’s Park for the year’s first Coaching Craft Workshop – a three-day learning event designed to challenge and develop the next generation of diverse coaching talent.
The Professional Cricketers’ Association’s Rookie Camp has inducted 28 players into the professional game with Chris Woakes, Georgia Elwiss, Rob Key and Ian Bell amongst the guest speakers as they welcomed 16 male and 12 female members into the game.
England legend Eoin Morgan CBE has been appointed as the new President of the Professional Cricketers’ Association (PCA), with the announcement to be approved at the Association’s AGM on Tuesday, 27 February 2024.
The NPA are pleased to announce that Ella Clark is stepping into the role of Player Chair for the NPA, taking over from Fran Williams who has moved to Australia to play for West Coast Fever.
The RPA and Podium Analytics are joining forces to continue the advancement of change in the professional game of rugby that will promote and improve player welfare.
The PFA has called for tougher action by authorities in stamping out racism from the game after Coventry City midfielder Kasey Palmer was racially abused by fans in a fixture against Sheffield Wednesday on Saturday 20th January.
Over the last four months, successful employment tribunal proceedings, brought by the RPA on behalf of 167 of its members from Worcester Warriors, Wasps and London Irish, have resulted in protective award compensation being awarded to all three sets of players.
Becky Gentle joined the League Managers Association in 2016 and has gradually worked her way up to Director of Women's Football. In this Q&A feature, we find out more about the development of support for female Football Managers and how Becky managed a dual career as a netball player alongside her career at the LMA.
The PPF runs various Committees and this month we're focusing on the Women's Sport Committee, chaired by Liz Bloor as we look in more detail at what the key role of the Committee is along with priorities for the year ahead.
The PCA has joined forces with world-leading players associations and FICA to reveal a new partnership with Winners Alliance who will represent and manage select global group rights for more than 500 of the world’s best cricketers from FICA’s 13 country affiliates.
Glen Durrant has joined the Board of Directors of the Professional Darts Players Association, while Alan Warriner-Little has become the organisation's President.
The World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) has included Tramadol on its 2024 Prohibited List from 1 January 2024. The Prohibited List is important as it designates what substances and methods are prohibited in sport, in-competition only, and within specific sports.
The University of Portsmouth has signed a new partnership with the PFA, paving the way for players to explore exciting career paths within the football industry. The University will validate and award qualifications from the PFA Business School, a new, player-focused initiative launched by the union earlier this year.
The winner of the 2023 PCA Futures Awards, in association with Lodders Solicitors, is Yorkshire’s Yash Vagadia, who takes the sought-after accolade after impressing the panel with his recent off-field accomplishments. The 19-year-old claimed the victory in the Academic Progression category alongside being named the outstanding candidate of the process. The Yorkshire batting all-rounder receives £3,000 to aid his personal development, thanks to Lodders.
The RPA and Premiership Rugby are pleased to confirm that Restart Round will be back in December, running from December 1 - 3 and dedicating Round 8 of Gallagher Premiership Rugby to raising awareness of players' mental health. Restart is the official charity of The Rugby Players Association (RPA) and we are dedicated to supporting professional rugby players suffering from serious injury, illness or hardship.
Following the announcement of the domestic men’s fixture list for 2024, the PCA has listened to its members on concerns regarding the schedule and the pressures it places on player welfare. Whilst recognising the challenges of maintaining a balanced schedule for all, the PCA is aware of views throughout the county game, following member engagement.
As part of the latest achievements of the Asian Inclusion Mentoring Scheme (AIMS), the PFA has announced a 29% increase in South Asian professional players in the 2023/24 season. The PFA’s South Asian Inclusion Strategy provides an extensive support network and club engagement, providing valuable experiences for Asian footballers across professional levels.
The Professional Jockeys Association has today announced that Paul Struthers has been appointed as its new Chief Executive, returning to a role he departed almost two years ago. Since leaving the PJA, Struthers has established his own sports consultancy, Moya Sport, and for the past few months has been providing consultancy services and advice to the PJA.
Former Bath City striker Alex Fletcher has joined the PFA’s Brain Health department, 12 months after suffering a near-fatal head injury. He has worked with the PFA and the Department for Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) to highlight the need for clearer guidance for clubs and enhanced safety measures.
Aston Villa stars Maz Pacheco and Ebony Salmon joined young people from across Birmingham for the PFA’s latest See It. Achieve It. event. Launched last year, the initiative elevates the voices of diverse role models from across the women’s game and inspiring the next generation of female football talent.
PCA Futures Week has drawn to a close having explored career transition stories from the PCA membership, whilst shining a light on enhancing player’s personal development. At the flagship event, the PCA Futures Conference, players have the opportunity to hear from industry experts and put the skills they’ve learnt into practice.
The PFA has released its yearly summary of player wellbeing data. Throughout the 2022/23 season, the players’ union confidentially surveyed over a thousand members from across the Premier League, English Football League (EFL) and Women’s Super League (WSL) on a range of issues related to their mental health and wellbeing.
Players from across the country met in London at the PCA Summit this week to discuss key issues affecting the game in England and Wales. 23 players attended the two-day event at the Tower Hotel and were invited to deliberate the current cricketing landscape and what the future holds for professional players.
PFA CEO and FIFPRO global board member, Maheta Molango, joined FIFPRO President David Aganzo at the World Football Summit in Seville, Spain, where they both spoke on the panel ‘Player Insights: Shaping the Future Development of the Football Industry’.
The PCA Inclusion Champions have gathered at Edgbaston to reflect, listen and learn new skills after delivering sessions to every professional squad in England and Wales. They received an upskilling educational day organised by PCA Director of EDI Donna Fraser OBE.
A new study led by Loughborough University in collaboration with the PFA will investigate the use of Snus in professional football.
The NPA are pleased to announce a change in their Alumni membership package. Having recently secured some funding for their core services and player development work, Alumni members now have life membership fee.
PFA Chief Executive Maheta Molango will use a speech at TUC Congress in Liverpool on Tuesday (12th September) to call for equal rights and conditions for female professional footballers.
Following talks between the ECB, PCA and England Women’s Player Partnership, the governing body has announced it is increasing match fees for England Women to bring them in line with England Men’s match fees.
Over 80 senior academy players from Premiership rugby clubs met for an introduction to the elite game on Wednesday 23rd August at Rugby School, for the annual RPA Academy Induction Day.
The Professional Players Federation (PPF) has released a new education film to educate footballers about the risks of spot fixing, in particular in relation to yellow and red card betting.
Speaking at an event organised by the PPF as part of their Female Athletes Week, the leaders of the player associations for football, cricket and rugby have said that governing bodies in women’s sports must prioritise the views of players when making key decisions about their futures.
To coincide with a number of high profile women’s sport events this summer, the Professional Players Federation (PPF) is hosting its first Female Athletes Week from July 3rd to 9th kindly supported by the Tom Maynard Trust. During the week, the PPF will be releasing a range of case studies, videos and other resources relating to professional sportswomen.
Chief Executive Rob Lynch calls for leaders to work together for equitable future as the PCA welcomes the findings from the Independent Commission for Equity in Cricket (ICEC) Report and acknowledges the need to address discrimination throughout the game.
The Minister for Sport, Stuart Andrew MP, has joined forces with PFA CEO Maheta Molango to ensure football is doing all it can to prevent players being seriously injured in collisions with pitch perimeter fences and walls.
The RFU and RPA are pleased to announce landmark new contracts for its women's senior playres, the Red Roses. The three-season agreement will see 32 contracts awarded as well as six transition contracts which will support aspiring Red Roses in their early professional journey.
In Mental Health Awareness Week from the 15th – 21st May, the RPA is teaming up with leading Mental Health charity LooseHeadz to produce a social media led content series.
The PFA and the Premier League have announced a new five-year partnership which will help support the wide range of services the players’ union provides to its members across the professional game at all stages of their careers.
The PFA has announced the launch of its new player-focused initiative, the PFA Business School, aimed at helping its members prepare for life after football.
A new and exciting training opportunity for jockeys has been announced today by JETS in collaboration with the Professional Jockeys Association (PJA) and supported by Great British Racing (GBR) and the Jockey Training & Development programme.
The England Women’s international side and all eight women’s regions have held early season meetings with the PCA to discuss future priorities.
The PFA is confirmed as supporting partner to Trent Alexander-Arnold’s After School Academy, a new initiative which will provide career opportunities for those who didn’t make it as professional players.
The PFA is pleased to announce the progress made during year two (2021/22 season) of its five-year strategy to increase South Asian representation within professional football.
The RFU, Premiership Rugby, Premier 15s and the RPA are today publishing its Inclusion and Diversity Action Plan for the elite game.
The PCA is delivering Alcohol Awareness sessions to players across the country to create a greater understanding of how to positively develop their relationship with alcohol whilst aiding inclusivity.
The PFA and family law firm Fair Result Limited (Fair-Result) have agreed a partnership which will see both current and former players from the men’s and women’s game able to access advice and support.
England’s Chris Woakes and Central Sparks’ Eve Jones are amongst 13 new names who have joined the Players’ Committee ahead of the 2023 season.
The first Standard Contracts in Welsh rugby’s history have been tabled making existing and new offers now legally binding – the Professional Rugby Board (PRB) has confirmed.
To celebrate the occasion, the PCA’s Head of Player Rights and Women’s Cricket, Emma Reid, has shared her thoughts on this year’s theme and how she sees the women’s game evolving
The RPA is delighted to announce Beno Obano of Bath Rugby as the worthy recipient of this season's second RPA Vodafone Business Gain Line Award.
Advanta Wealth, the fast growing multi-disciplined Wealth Management company, has announced a three year partnership with the RPA. .
The Federation of International Cricketers’ Associations (FICA) today released its third Women’s Professional Cricket Global Employment Report 2022.
Lee Mansell, the former professional footballer and manager, has recently taken on a new challenge working as a Player Services Executive at the PFA.
The RPA is pleased to launch its new Premier 15s Membership offer for the 2022/23 season. This is a hugely exciting step in the RPA's evolution, expanding beyond the Women's International game into Domestic representation, as it looks to offer comprehensive support for all elite women.
Glamorgan’s James Harris is to remain as Chair of the Professional Cricketers’ Association, taking his tenure up to February 2025 following a re-election.
Omar Beckles has been elected as the new Chair of the Professional Footballers’ Association. Beckles takes up the position having been chosen by fellow members of the PFA’s Players’ Board.
The PFA Asian Inclusion Mentoring Scheme (AIMS) has made significant progress in its third year of a five-year strategy aimed at nurturing South Asian footballers and increasing representation in elite football.
Today, The International Football Association Board (IFAB), has rejected an application to trial temporary concussion substitutions in leading leagues, including the Premier League and Ligue 1.
The RPA is pleased to announce that Christian Day has been elected as their new General Secretary. Day will be responsible to the RPA Players Board and RPA Management Board through the RPA Chair and Chair of the Management Board.
The Professional Footballers’ Association (PFA) and the Department for Education are to work together on new initiatives designed to encourage more players to pursue careers in teaching.
The RPA is pleased to announce the appointmentss of Nick Rappolt, Mike Bohndiek, Hannah Bruce and Helen Verwoert as new Non-Executive Directors of the RPA.
The winner of the 2022 PCA Futures Awards, in association with Lodders Solicitors, is Gloucestershire’s Tom Smith, who wins the sought-after personal development prize after impressing the judges with his recent off-field accomplishments.
The RPA can today announce the five candidates who are standing for election to become the RPA's new General Secretary. Voting starts on Monday 12th December, and closes on Wednesday 4th January.
The Professional Cricketers’ Association has announced five new additions to the Non-Executive Board of Directors. Caroline Artis, Hannah Bowe, Siobhan Newmarch and Professor Swaran Preet Singh join Simone Pound as appointments as Non-Executive Directors.
The PCA’s Futures Awards, in association with Lodders Solicitors, is back for its 10th edition with seven PCA members hoping to be rewarded for their personal development away from cricket.
The WRPA have been in regular communication with all key stakeholders around the current negotiations for a long-term finance model for the four regions and the impact the ongoing delay is having on players.
The RPA is pleased to announce that a research paper called "The Influence of Match Exposure on Injury Risk in elite men's Rugby Union" has now been published.
Domestic and international cricketers have taken time out of their hectic schedules to prioritise their future off the field as part of the PCA’s Futures Week.
Speaking at the latest NFL game at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, NFL Players Association Executive Director DeMaurice Smith highlighted the importance for unions across the world to work together in unity.
The expanded membership, previously known as the RPA Club, is open exclusively to former RPA members when they retire or have retired, from professional rugby, and aims to give retired members wide-ranging support, whether transitioning out of the game or having been retired for a long period of time already.
The PPF was deeply saddened to hear of the passing of John Duncan, who died on Saturday at the age of 73 and played an important part at the LMA.
James Bailey has joined the RPA's Gain Line Programme as the Wellbeing & Transition Manager. Bailey, 39, has spent over two decades in professional rugby, playing in the Premiership, France’s Top 14 and as an England Sevens international, before becoming the first professional black head coach of an England rugby team
As part of the Jockey Matters film series, JETS and the PJA have released two new education films about Respect and Inclusion in the weighing room. Both films feature a conversation between a group of five Flat and Jump jockeys with advice from Inclusion expert, Chris Gibbons.
The PFA has announced the appointment of Alejandro Cardenas as the Director of its new Business School, a landmark project for the PFA and is seen as a key development in the service the footballers’ union offers to members as they prepare for the transition away from a playing career.
Wellbeing data released by the PFA on World Mental Health Day 2022 highlights the social and mental health challenges current and former professionals face, but also the work the union is doing to help its members.
The Professional Cricketers’ Association is pleased to confirm the appointment of Donna Fraser OBE as its first Director of Equality, Diversity and Inclusion.
The PCA Players’ Committee has released a statement upon the publication of the ECB’s High Performance Review of Men’s Cricket findings.
WPBSA Chairman Jason Ferguson has welcomed the introduction of a new prize money guarantee scheme that will see players on the World Snooker Tour (WST) guaranteed to earn a minimum of £20,000.
Professionals from around the country who represent teams with the colour of the rainbow have donned their kits and got involved with the PCA’s video supporting the LGBTQ+ community and Stonewall's Rainbow Laces campaign.
Youngters from Premiership Rugby Clubs met for an introducton to the professional game on Tuesday 23rd August at Rugby School, for the first RPA Academy Induction Day in three years.
The PFA has appointed N3XT Sports to undertake a wide-ranging digitalisation project as part of work to modernise the organisation’s internal operations and its communications with PFA members.
On his final day with the RPA, CEO Damian Hopley has written up some final thoughts after 24 years in the role.
FIFPRO member unions, current and former players, industry stakeholders took part in Raising Our Game – an event which discussed current topics and future developments facing the women’s professional game.
A new agreement has been reached between the Professional Footballers’ Association (PFA) and the Premier League with an increased funding package to support priority issues.
Today the PFA has launched the #SeeItAchieveIt campaign, a new initiative addressing the lack of diversity in the women's game.
The Professional Players Federation and the Professional Darts Players Association have released a new education film today highlighting some of the key risks to players who become involved in match fixing and the serious repercussions on both their professional career and their personal life.
The Netball Players Association has announced a new partnership with Sporting Chance to support the mental health and wellbeing of its members.
The new partnership announced by the RPA will see St. James’s Place Financial Adviser Academy work alongside the RPA to support players with their transition away from the game. They will provide opportunities for players interested in pursuing a career in finance.
The PCA, LMA, RPA and WRPA have all introduced a permanent way of referring any past and present player or manager who has either been diagnosed with dementia or is caring for a loved one.
The Professional Footballers' Association (PFA) has appointed Ben Wright as its new Director of External Affairs. He will be overseeing all aspects of the PFA's strategic communications and stakeholder engagement, covering both the union's campaigning work and its range of activities across education, training and wellbeing.
The PCA has announced a ground-breaking partnership with health and life insurer Vitality, that sees domestic male and female players sporting Vitality’s logo on all player helmets, an asset that has been created as part of the collective rights agreement that professional players in England and Wales signed with the PCA in 2021.
The PPF is pleased to announce a new partnership with Pro Sport Wealth. Through their team of Chartered Financial Planners who are also former professional sportspeople, Pro Sport Wealth provides a bespoke, specialist service to professional sportspeople guiding them on the path to long term financial security.
Today sees the start of the PPF Career Transition Week supported by the Tom Maynard Trust. Throughout the week, we will be showcasing the wide ranging services and resources offered by player associations to help sportspeople prepare for their second career.
The PPF and Sports law specialists Mills & Reeve have teamed up to create two new cryptocurrency e-Learning resources specifically targeted at sportspeople. The two modules have been designed to improve players’ understanding of cryptocurrency and NFTs.
The PFA is to begin a major consultation exercise designed to provide a clearer understanding of the number of former professional players living with neurogenerative diseases (NDD).
The Mental Health Charter for Sport and Recreation steering group has today issued its ‘Seven Years of Changing Culture’ report highlighting the progress made across the wider sports and recreation sector since 2015 when the Charter was established.
The PCA is making progress in representing the collective rights of its membership, including via a recently expanded partnership with the fantasy cricket game The Cricket Draft which will benefit the players.
The RPA have has launched the Retired Player Network, a new programme to support the health and wellbeing of retired members and reduce the many issues that players can experience when faced with retirement.
March 2022 marks one year since launching the PFA’s Asian Inclusion Mentoring Scheme (AIMS). The scheme was created to nurture today’s elite South Asian footballers, boosting representation, and inspiring the next generation of players.
The PPF has published a ‘Motherhood & Elite Sport’ policy paper outlining some key recommendations and minimum standards expected for female athletes in the areas of motherhood, pregnancy and parental leave.
The RPA, RFU and Premiership Rugby have launched a new four year partnership with Epic Risk Management (EPIC) to deliver a gambling awareness education programme.
The Professional Footballers' Association (PFA) announces the creation of a dedicated Former Player Care department for neurodegenerative diseases (NDD) within football.ll
Today, the PFA hosted a meeting facilitating constructive dialogue with FIFA, FIFPRO, and senior professional players in the Premier League and Women's Super League on the future of player welfare.
The PCA have begun their groundbreaking educational workshops designed to give players coping strategies with social media use and abuse. The professional game-wide sessions address the role that social media can have on your mental health, both positive and negative.
The PPF today welcomed the Government’s publication of its position paper on concussion in sport as part of its response to the DCMS Select Committee investigation.
The FA, Premier League, EFL and Professional Footballers Association (PFA) have today announced a new joint action plan on understanding, promoting and protecting brain health.
The PCA has started delivering inclusivity education to the next generation of professional cricketers at the 18 first-class county academies.
The RPA Players' Board have announced Vicki Cornborough as the newly elected RPA Vice Chair, with Ethan Waller remaining as RPA Chair.
Throughout the summer of 2021, the PCA and ECB have jointly funded media training workshops for all domestic women’s cricketers.
PFA Scotland is backing a research programme into the causes of dementia in football players.
Current and former players met for the first in-person PCA Futures Conference in two years, as PCA members took time to focus on their personal development during the off-season.
Today, the PFA is again leading calls for football stakeholders to establish an industry-wide care fund to support players living with dementia and other neurodegenerative conditions.
The PJA has announced David Bass as their new Jump President taking over from Richard Johnson as well as a Board Re-Structure.
In association with their Betting Integrity partners, the Professional Players Federation has today released three short education films aimed at professional sportspeople. The films are introduced by former footballer Jason Lee and also feature Betway’s Head of Communications, Alan Alger and Sports Betting Integrity Adviser, Nigel Mawer QPM.
The Professional Players Federation (PPF) has today released a set of Social Media Guidance for players and associations to help them manage and report social media abuse. The twelve player associations that form the PPF are also reiterating their call for more action to be taken to protect players from the vile online abuse they receive each day.
Today, PFA Director of Equality, Diversity and Inclusion, Simone Pound, joined former players Lianne Sanderson, Anton Ferdinand and PFA Players’ Board member Marvin Sordell to give evidence in front of a Home Affairs Select Committee examining online racist abuse of players.
Today, a PFA-funded research project carried out by ethical data science company, Signify, found there was a 48% increase in unmoderated racist online abuse in the second half of the 2020/21 football season, with 50% of abusive accounts coming from the UK.
The RPA are proud to announce that they have been appointed as the exclusive commercial and welfare representatives for the Red Roses.
The PJA welcomes the publication of the "Concussion in Sport" report following the DCMS Committee inquiry to consider links between sport and long-term brain injury, the implications for youth sport, funding for further scientific research, and the role of national governing bodies and major sporting organisations.
The PCA is to deliver groundbreaking game-wide educational workshops to all professional cricketers in England and Wales to address the role that social media plays in mental health, with 27 partner businesses joining forces to support the initiative.
Today, Maheta Molango starts his first full week as Chief Executive of the PFA, addressing members, he has committed to a player-centric approach to his leadership of the union. Find out more about his vision for the PFA...
The RPA and Pickstar Marketplace, the world’s fastest growing marketplace for brands and businesses looking to connect with and hire sports stars, entertainers and personalities, have today announced a one-year partnership agreement.
Today sees the start of PPF Career Transition Month. Former and current sportspeople across cricket, rugby, football and horseracing will feature in a series of case studies and webinars aimed exclusively at sportspeople, highlighting the broad range of second careers they can go on to enjoy.
The PPF and its members will be among those across the sporting community who will be taking part in a social media boycott this weekend to highlight the issue of social media abuse suffered by sporting participants that continues to go unaddressed.
The PFA and LMA are both uniting with English Football for a social media boycott in response to the ongoing and sustained discriminatory abuse received online by players and many others connected to football.
The RPA has launched its Welfare Advisory Board with the aim of providing guidance, advice and proposals to the RPA on player welfare matters.
Nine new representatives, including four female domestic pros, have been confirmed as part of the PCA Players’ Committee ahead of the return of the LV= Insurance County Championship.
Today marks six years since the Professional Players Federation, the Sport and Recreation Alliance, and Mind launched the Mental Health Charter for Sport and Recreation to actively challenge the stigma around mental health in the sporting world and promote positive mental health.
Charlotte Edwards has become the first female President of the PCA, after being elected by the Players’ Committee at the Association’s Annual General Meeting (AGM).
The World Professional Billiards and Snooker Association (WPBSA) has today announced that former world champion Ken Doherty has been elected as chairman of the newly formed WPBSA Players organisation.
The PFA and LMA are among eight signatories across football calling for social media companies to do more to stop racist and other discriminatory abuse on their platforms.
The PPF recently announced a new partnership with GAMSTOP, but what does GAMSTOP do, and how does it work? Please find below a summary of how GAMSTOP can help you.
Following a spate of disgusting racist abuse aimed at Black professional footballers, the PCA have once again called on social media companies to make stronger interventions to protect players from racial abuse.
Middlesex’s James Harris has been elected by the PCA Players’ Committee as the new Chair of the Association, replacing Daryl Mitchell who will step down after completing his four-year term.
The RPA held their second in a series of webinars focusing on Diversity and Inclusion in rugby, an issue that is currently a focus point of work being carried out by the organisation.
The PCA has welcomed the newly contracted domestic female players to the Association in what is a landmark moment in the history of the women’s game in England and Wales.
The PJA has appointed Jon Holmes, sports agent and racehorse owner, as Acting Chairman for 12 months, commencing from 1st December.
The Rugby Players Association has announced a new online wellbeing education provision with Believe Perform for the coming 2020/21 season.
Hampshire fast bowler Chris Wood has joined gambling-harm minimisation consultancy EPIC Risk Management in his new role as a Pro-Sport Facilitator.
The PCA Futures Week returns with the beginning of the inaugural Futures Series which will take place throughout November.
RPA Restart Trustee Ugo Monye sits down with Shaunagh Brown and Aaron Morris to discuss why Black History Month matters to them.
The Professional Players Federation has today announced a partnership with GAMSTOP, the free, independent service that allows consumers to exclude themselves from UK gambling websites.
The PCA has appointed Interim Chief Executive Rob Lynch as its new Chief Executive.
The Netball Players Association (NPA) have announced the appointment of Sophia Candappa as Chair, and Stacey Francis as Vice-Chair of the Players Committee. They will play a key leadership role working alongside the Player Representatives and Player Development Manager.
The RFU and RPA today confirmed a new agreement for England men's international players during the 2020/21 season. A one-year arrangement has been reached with players accepting a 25% reduction in remuneration.
The PCA has today released figures to show how current players have helped save the game in excess of £3.8 million via a series of voluntary measures with further actions agreed by players totalling over £11 million.
A new ‘Jockey Matters’ film focusing on Substance Abuse & Support has been released today by the PJA and JETS featuring powerful, personal testimonies from Flat jockeys Kieran Shoemark and Ray Dawson.
The WPBSA has announced the creation of a new initiative which will help officially qualified snooker and billiards coaches to access new resources to support their coaching delivery.
England 7's player Jodie Ounsley is the proud recipient of the first Vodafone sponsored Gain Line Award after signing her first professional contract in August 2019 and becoming the first female deaf rugby player to make an International 7's squad.
The Ladies European Tour (LET) has launched a fresh logo, new website and tag line, #RaiseOurGame, capturing the ambition of the new LPGA-LET joint venture partnership and a shared desire to keep moving women’s golf forward.
The PFA sets out changes required to the Recruitment Code within football, underpinned by transparency and accountability to ensure better BAME representation off the pitch.
Following recent events across the world, the PCA has issued a response regarding the diversity and equality within professional cricket and sets out how it plans to work with members to deliver change.
The PFA has published its own diversity statistics in relation to its black representation as part of a call for greater transparency to help tackle systemic racism in football.
The RPA today announced the appointment of Penny Maltby-Payne as Head of Communications. Penny joins the RPA from Great British Racing, where she was Senior PR Manager.
Since the beginning of lockdown, there has been a dramatic increase in players and athletes working with personal development practitioners and participating in education courses and career transition initiatives.
The PFA Charity and ProSport has launched MyProPlan, a new financial planning tool, helping current and former professional footballers take a proactive approach to money management.
Over 100 PCA playing members have been pursuing their personal development away from the cricket pitch during the first 50 days of Coronavirus-enforced lockdown through enrolling on online courses.
The PJA has released a new digital handbook for its members. In conjunction, it has launched a brand new website, designed to complement the handbook and provide more detailed information for jockeys.
Former players and Restart trustees have launched a fundraising initiative and mental health campaign called #RugbyFamily to support players during the COVID pandemic.
Patrick Foster from EPIC Risk Management, is currently working with the PCA to deliver gambling awareness workshops funded by the Professional Cricketers’ Trust after a donation from PCA President Graham Gooch.
The RPA's official statement following the announcement from the PRL that players from 13 member clubs would be faced with imminent wage cuts.
The Professional Cricketers’ Trust has officially partnered with Sporting Chance to provide PCA members with mental health treatment and support after a record 85 PCA members were diagnosed with related issues in 2019.
The PFA is delighted to announce the launch of a new Women’s Football department, headed up by current Player Management Executive Marie-Christine Bouchier, in her new role as Director of Women’s Football.
A record 52 of England and Wales’ finest young cricketers were inducted into the professional game at the PCA’s 10th annual Rookie Camp event on a day that highlighted the benefits of being a young professional.
The RPA has announced Telegraph Spark as its Official News Partner. The Telegraph Media Group is an award-winning multimedia news brand renowned for its authoritative sports and rugby coverage.
Seven PCA members have been recognised for their ongoing commitment to personal development away from the cricket pitch at the Association’s 2020 Futures Awards.
Northampton Saints winger Tom Collins has won the first RPA Gain Line Award of the 2019/20 season. The award was created to celebrate the proactivity and off-field achievements of RPA members.
The PJA (Professional Jockeys Association) and JETS (Jockeys Education and Training Scheme) have secured a £2.3 million five-year grant which will be allocated to key areas of jockey development and support.
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