News

Following the first RPA Men’s Rugby Board meeting of the 2025/26 season, the RPA is delighted to confirm that Max Lahiff has been elected Chair, with Ivan van Zyl appointed as Vice Chair of the Men’s Rugby Board.

This follows the creation of the new Men’s and Women’s Rugby Boards, each with their respective Chair and Vice-Chair, announced in June after a player vote.

The move underlines the RPA’s ongoing commitment to provide dedicated representation and wellbeing support for every elite player across the game. By establishing two separate Boards, players in both men’s and women’s rugby will benefit from tailored, player-led representation that can respond directly to the unique challenges and opportunities within their environments.

Lahiff, the Bristol Bears prop, succeeds recently retired Ruaridh McConnochie. Max joined the Bears in 2019 and has gone on to make more than 100 appearances for the club, being a key cog in their scrum. He previously played for Bath, London Irish and Melbourne Rebels.

Van Zyl takes on the Vice Chair role from Freddie Clarke. The South African scrum-half joined Saracens in 2021 and has since cemented himself as a pivotal figure for the club, helping them secure the Gallagher PREM title in 2023. He has been part of the RPA Players’ Board since 2023.

The Board also welcomes several new members for the 2025/26 season, including Bath captain Ben Spencer, Leicester Tigers and England prop Joe Heyes, Exeter Chiefs forward Richard Capstick and Gloucester back-row Lewis Ludlow. You can view the full Men’s Rugby Board on the RPA website.

Reflecting on his appointment as Men’s Rugby Board Chair, Max Lahiff said: “I’m delighted to be continuing as RPA Representative for Bristol Bears, as well as being elected Chair of the Board. Having players at the heart of the conversation is my biggest passion, and I feel truly privileged to have been voted in by my peers to represent them.”

On his new role as Vice Chair, Ivan van Zyl said: “I’m honoured to be elected Vice Chair of the Men’s Rugby Board. It’s a privilege to represent my fellow players, and I’m looking forward to working alongside Max, the Board and the RPA to ensure players’ voices are heard. The RPA does such important work across the game, and I’m excited to play my part in supporting that and representing the views of my teammates.”

RPA General Secretary Christian Day added: “The RPA team would like to congratulate Max, newly elected Chair, and Ivan, newly elected Vice Chair of the Rugby Players Association Men’s Players Board. It is a great honour to represent the players’ voice, and their election reflects the trust and respect of their fellow professionals. Ensuring that voice is heard is at the heart of everything we do as an organisation, and we look forward to working closely with them both in continuing to support, promote and protect the interests of our members both on and off the field of play.”

The first Women’s Rugby Board will convene later this year, with election of its Chair and Vice Chair to take place once representatives from each Premiership Women’s Rugby club have been elected.