NRLW reaches agreement with RLPA over landmark CBA
The National Rugby League (NRL) and Rugby League Players Association (RLPA) have reached a principle agreement on terms for the first-ever Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA) for the NRLW competition.
The landmark agreement means female players will be afforded the same type of terms and conditions of employment that the men are, which will in turn allow the women’s game to grow further.
The terms agreed to in the NRLW’s first CBA include pregnancy and parental arrangements, incorporating support for pregnant players, leave provisions, and support for primary carers and parents of infants up to 24 months.
These terms have been the main talking points in recent weeks, with this agreement reducing the restrictions on women’s rights off the playing field.
Further to these arrangements, the NRL and RLPA have agreed on private health insurance and 12-month contracts for players, with the possibility of signing multi-year deals from 2023.
READ: NRL season under strike cloud while CBA talks drag on
NRL CEO Andrew Abdo said the agreement is an enormous boost for women and girls wanting to build a career in professional rugby league in Australia.
“The Australian Rugby League Commission is adamant that investment in the women’s game be prioritised at every level and the finalisation of terms for the elite NRLW is just one aspect of that commitment,” he said.
“The proposed investment of $118 million across the five-year cycle at the elite level factors in future growth of the competition and is also supported by significant investment in pathways and grassroots participation as part of an overall strategy for women’s rugby league development.
“I want to acknowledge and thank the players, RLPA, clubs and all partners for their support as we worked through this historic agreement.”
RLPA CEO Clint Newton also spoke about the magnitude of the agreement, recognising the dedication of the players in the NRLW competition.
“We recognise the incredible contribution players make in playing the fastest and toughest sport in the world,” he said.
“Agreeing to these financial terms will now give NRLW players financial certainty and security ahead of signing contracts for the 2023 NRLW season and beyond.”
The announcement came with confirmation that the NRLW salary cap will rise from $350,000 in 2022, to over $1.5 million in 2027.
The flow-on effect is seen in minimum salaries over the same five-year period, with the increase to $50,600 in 2027 from $30,000 in 2023.
Newton also stated there is still a lot of work and negotiation to be done on the CBA, in order to encapsulate all that the terms and conditions requested by the NRL and the NRLW players.
