ANNUAL REPORT 2017/18 FOREWORD

From June 2019, as part of a wider RPA This Annual Report highlights the essential rebrand, the Personal Development Programme work of the RPA’s team of Development will be renamed RPA Gain Line. The programme Managers in supporting our members during has evolved and expanded significantly over the 2017/18 season. the past 15 years, creating the need for a distinct and instantly recognisable identity I would like to take this opportunity to that encompasses the breadth and variety of acknowledge the talent and hard work of our the programme. Development Managers, who continue to demonstrate professionalism and commitment RPA Gain Line is about helping players to be of the highest level. Due to its confidential and proactive, prepared and committed off the field often highly sensitive nature, much of their work as well as on it. Through the programme, goes unseen and unreported. Nevertheless, they players are supported with their welfare and provide indispensable support to current and off-field personal development, education and retired professional rugby players in England. career exploration. It benefits players by encouraging them to pursue a balanced I would also like to thank the management and lifestyle, prepare for life after rugby and coaching staff in each of the clubs with whom enhance their playing performance. we work and the RFU and Premiership Rugby, for their continued support of this essential and Established in 2004, the Gain Line programme growing programme. is delivered by the Rugby Players' Association (RPA) and backed by the Rugby Football Union (RFU) and Premiership Rugby.

In 2017/18, the programme was staffed by a team of eight Development Managers (DMs), (previously only one PDM in 2004), employed Ben McGregor, by the RPA. RPA Head of Gain Line WHY IS GAIN LINE IMPORTANT? We want all Nothing is The Gain Line players to achieve guaranteed in life, programme, their full potential certainly not the run by the – not only in rugby but also date a professional rugby Development Managers, is beyond that, in life after the player retires from the at the heart of everything game. The RPA’s Gain Line professional game. The RPA that is good about the RPA. “programme is vital for “Gain Line programme takes “It offers education, benefits Two pieces of recent research highlight the importance players as it gives them the some of the uncertainty out and perhaps most of the programme: chance of developing their of the future by providing a importantly support in the skills and experience away platform for the individual full range of issues that can from the rugby pitch. We player, tailored to his needs affect the modern player. 1. MENTAL HEALTH Both bodies of work reinforce the need for are proud to support this and passionately driven by The Development Manager A recent survey of 800 retired professional player wellbeing, personal development and programme and applaud a team of Development also acts as a confidential, players, by the Professional Players Federation transition support to be at the top of sports (PPF), from Rugby Union, Cricket and Football, administrators’ agendas. As has been the case the excellent work done Managers who relentlessly objective and impartial found that 50% did not feel in control of their since 2004, RPA Gain Line provides continuing by the RPA Development seek to promote the players mentor for an individual lives within two years of retirement. Within evidence of professional rugby union in England Managers in helping players they serve. The whom they can call on with rugby union specifically, nearly two-thirds of addressing that need. realise their goals in life.” programme, grown and no fear of compromising players suffer mental health problems after Nigel Melville, developed by the Head of their own professional retirement. Whilst 99% of retired players It is therefore excellent to see clubs like RFU Professional Gain Line, Ben McGregor is standing or aspirations. As believe current pros should be offered support Exeter and Saracens prioritising personal Rugby Director a credit to both him and the the game continues to with transition. development support of their players ‘top RPA and I am privileged to grow, the role of the down’, which can be evidenced by them have been associated with it Development Manager only allocating protected time in the club’s weekly for the past few years and becomes more valuable." 2. SPORT PERFORMANCE schedule for personal development activities. “Higher levels of engagement in pre-retirement seen the growth and Mark Lambert, career planning and education were linked to “Performance Directors and people benefits it provides for so RPA Chairman improved levels of performance on the field, running sports talent programmes should many players." increased overall years contracted by a club encourage the uptake of the Performance Corin Palmer, Premiership and length of playing career.” These were the Lifestyle service by participants, and Rugby Head of Elite key results from Professor David Lavallee’s ensure sports performance doesn’t limit its Performance and Player independent research into the impact of the role and influence.” Development Australian NRL’s CareerWise Programme, Baroness Tanni Grey-Thompson’s 2017 which analysed the off-field personal Duty of Care in Sport report development of 632 players in the Australian NRL over three seasons. THE GAIN LINE TEAM

The Development Managers who deliver the Gain Line programme promote a ‘Dual Career’ philosophy for players, which was a core theme of Baroness Tanni Grey-Thompson’s 2017 Duty of Care in Sport report:

“Dual Career is about taking on the responsibility to provide choice and enabling and empowering an individual to fulfil their potential.”

In 2017/18, the Development Managers drew on more than 40 years’ combined experience delivering personal development and wellbeing player support.

The Development Managers supported the players of 12 Premiership clubs, Bristol Bears, England 7s, the England Women’s EPS and 7s’ squads, plus the Premiership Academy at Yorkshire Carnegie. The RPA also provided a dedicated Development Manager service to its retired members.

The Development Managers facilitate club- wide educational events and a range of voluntary personal development focussed seminars, workshops, networking opportunities and insight days.

“The biggest difficulty facing professional sports people and professional rugby players is what to do post career as well as what to do to achieve life balance. My Development Manager has helped me personally and has been invaluable.” James Haskell 2017/18 SEASON SUMMARY

The 2017/18 season was another year of seminars, workshops and career significant achievement for the Gain Line, insight days delivered especially when taking into consideration an 220 additional 5% increase in the number of players attended by players. supported by the programme, and the fact that 4840 seven clubs had to adapt to Director of Rugby changes during the season. Topics for these sessions were as wide-ranging as Public Speaking, Transition and Financial Overall season activity includes: Awareness to Barista Training, Personal Training and Personal Branding. of players had an Individual Development Plan In addition, a variety of career insight sessions 98% were delivered, including: Starting Your Own of players actively engaged in Business, Police, Sky Sports, Butchery, Fire 85% their personal development Service and Property Development. Four RPA networking evenings were held in ‘Player engagement’ is gauged by assessing a Birmingham, Newcastle, Bath and Gloucester. player’s active pursuit of their Gain Line Individual Development Plan, with regards to: of players every month sought o proactive exploration of education, personal independent wellbeing support development or career transition pathways, 18% (including mental wellbeing and/or support, access to legal advice, agent advice, o demonstration of a sustained commitment rugby insurance advice, tax advice, personal to ‘CV-credible’ activities such as issues, medical issues, etc.) from the RPA, with education, work experience, starting a their Development Manager being a first point business, employment, charitable work, of contact. etc. 64% of players were engaged in this advanced level of activity. current and retired players were referred to the RPA’s confidential At the peak of Gain Line activity during the 50 counselling service (funded by the 2017/18 season: RPA’s official charity, Restart) in 2017/18, the second highest recorded figure for one season of players were undertaking after 52 in 2016/17. 35% work experience were undertaking post-rugby career exploration, planning 38% or preparation 22% were in higher education had a degree or higher 20% qualification already undertaking other forms 21% of education education grants worth 92 £92,000 awarded different subjects studied at 20 43 institutions AWARD WINNERS:

CHRIS WYLES ANDY HAZELL HEATHER FISHER RPA 2017/18 Award Winner RPA 2017/18 Award Winner RPA 2017/18 Award Winner

• International for the USA on • 7 caps for England • Co-presenter for a weekly drive- 54 occasions time show on Marlow FM radio • 260+ appearances for • Attended 3 World Cups Gloucester Rugby • Studying a Masters in Strength & Conditioning through Gloucester • Represented the USA 7s at • European Challenge Cup Winner University Rio 2016 Olympics • Powergen Cup Winner • Runs a personal training business, • 240+ appearances for Saracens seeing regular weekly clients on • On retirement, Hazell was the her days off from training • Four-time Premiership Champion longest-serving player to any professional rugby union club since • Youth Sports Trust and • Two-time European Champion the professional era began in 1995 Birmingham City University Athlete Mentor • Co-founded Wolfpack Lager • Towards the latter stages of his in 2014 with former teammate career, Andy was proactive in • Represented Team GB 7s at and retired South African lock exploring further and learning Rio 2016 Olympics Alistair Hargreaves about e-commerce ROLE MODELS • Secured a bronze medal at the • Wolfpack Lager is now served in • Founded two businesses: 2018 Commonwealth Games with The use of positive player role models to more than 60 pubs across the Smart Home Sounds and England 7s demonstrate just what is achievable by pursuing capital, has a permanent ‘bus bar’ Inside Out Cinema at Allianz Park for Saracens home • 2014 World Cup-Winner a dual career approach, as evidenced by the games, and just last year saw the • Andy has established himself 2017/18 RPA Gain Line Programme successful opening of the as a successful entrepreneur at • Member of England Women 15s Wolfpack bar in north London. the helm of thriving and well- who won the BBC Sports regarded businesses Personality of the Year award for • Chris has been acknowledged ‘Team of the Year’ for being highly proactive in • Andy has continued to work creating and growing the brand, closely with the RPA as a mentor working closely with the team at to current players who are I am extremely honoured Saracens and with support from exploring their options for a career to be acknowledged for the RPA to manage his time after rugby the efforts I have put in effectively off the pitch and build off the field. Being able to keep my a business from scratch. brain stimulated away from rugby It’s a fantastic feeling to helps me to switch off and enables be recognized for the me to lay down foundations for my The RPA and Saracens work you are doing and it “future. I wouldn’t be where I am focus so heavily on will definitely help push the today without the help of Kim, our supporting our players, company’s performance further. It’s RPA Development Manager, her preparing guys for life after rugby. been a tough but very rewarding support has been amazing and has Launching Wolfpack with Al has experience starting a business from allowed me to keep focused away been an enormous experience, “scratch but the continued support from rugby.” we’ve worked so hard together to from the RPA and Josh Frape has “build the business and ultimately been hugely beneficial.” create a product which we’re exceptionally proud of. I can’t speak highly enough of how important it is to have a focus away from rugby.” Development Managers focus on building one-to-one relationships with players, from the day they step into professional rugby to the day they leave (and beyond), via individual player meetings and Individual Development Plans, providing a platform for increased and trusted engagement with players.

INDUCTION

84 players attended the RPA Academy Senior Academy Dual Careers Philosophy: Induction Day, with British and Irish Lion From the age of 18, all Senior Academy players George Kruis, former England international Tom are required to pursue a Dual Careers Johnson and Bath legend Stuart Hooper philosophy. Gain Line and clubs work providing their insights into the realities of life collaboratively to ensure players engage as a professional rugby player. There were also in meaningful, CV-credible personal workshops for players on personal development, aiding their growth as people INDUCTION responsibility & the law, mental wellbeing, and preparing them for a positive transition into gambling awareness, dealing with the media life after playing. AND and social media. TRANSITION TRANSITION 131 retired players received dedicated advice the challenges of retirement, while also and assistance during the season. supporting them with their career development and developing employability skills. In 2017/18, the RPA Transition Programme expanded, with Transition Podcasts produced "When I realised that my career was in for members and the launch of the Transition jeopardy due to injury I felt very lost, and the Talks initiative, with former players giving months that followed were not any easier. At insights into life after rugby at their former clubs. times I felt very alone and didn't really know who to talk to. It was after my meetings with “On leaving a sport, participants should be my RPA Development Manager that I realised linked to the sport’s welfare department (if how therapeutic talking was. That was a big available) to ensure the individual is provided insight, being able to talk to someone outside with information about support and of my rugby club and my family was massive opportunities to retain contact with the sport.” for me. With the help of my Development Baroness Tanni Grey-Thompson’s 2017 Duty of Manager I was able to voice my ideas and put Care in Sport report plans in place for my life post rugby." James Bailey, RFU England Women 7’s Coach The third RPA Transition Weekend took place in June 2018 in Herefordshire, with eight retired/ Following the results of the PPF retired player retiring RPA members. The programme was study, and with the expanding Transition delivered by military transition specialists Fieri Programme, the RPA made the decision to Consulting and focused on participants employ a full-time Transition Manager for the understanding their skills and strengths, and 2018/19 season. PROFESSIONAL GAME WELFARE EDUCATION STRATEGY As part of the Professional Game Welfare Education Strategy, developed by the RPA, Premiership Rugby and the RFU, Development Managers assisted with co-ordinated delivery of welfare education seminars. With concussion education delivered by club doctors, other mandatory education in 2017/18 included:

• Anti-corruption (as part of the EU Athletes Pro-Integrity campaign) & gambling awareness sessions (Development PLAYING IT SAFE Manager led) Education of young players regarding issues • Joint co-ordination of Anti-Doping sessions such as sexual consent is essential. ‘Playing it (RFU led) Safe’, delivered by Gleeson Mills and piloted by Exeter Chiefs, was the first education ALCOHOL AWARENESS programme of its kind to effectively engage with players of all ages on these issues. The In 2017/18, Tom Fitzsimons delivered the programme was delivered to all clubs covered ‘Alcohol and You’ education programme to by Gain Line. The programme was: RPA members. This was a personal story-led WELLBEING approach to the education of players in their • An interactive awareness-raising session, clubs, based on Tom’s own battle with supporting players to make informed choices alcoholism. The aims of the programme were to: that promote safety and well-being

• Highlight associated risk factors involving the • Delivered by a female and male team of use of alcohol former social workers with expertise in working with harmful sexual behaviour Addressing our members’ wellbeing is • Provide first-hand experience of potential amongst young people risks to a player’s health, employment and central to Gain Line, whether assisting players career due to alcohol • Focused on the impact of inappropriate on a 1-to-1 basis or providing education and sexual behaviour for everyone involved raising awareness. • Identify potential triggers/causes of alcohol abuse/addiction • Incorporated potential ramifications for future career and relationships • Highlight the potential impact of alcohol use Development Managers often act as a first the RPA’s official charity, Restart. The service in rugby point of contact for players with heightened has been run by Cognacity (experts in the welfare issues, signposting players to the fields of psychiatry, psychology and • Signpost where a player may seek help for appropriate welfare assistance. This ‘safety net’ psychotherapy) since 2008 and supports themselves or their teammates function is a crucial part of the Development members with day-to-day wellbeing issues Manager role. as well as those specific to life as a professional On the back of the Alcohol and You education sportsperson, which can include stress and programme, Tom worked with some players on In 2017/18, on average, 18% of players anxiety, burn out, adjustment disorders, a 1-to-1 basis and referrals were made to required independent welfare interventions addictions, coping with long term injury Cognacity where appropriate. (including help with mental wellbeing issues, and depression. transition support, family matters, medical issues, plus access to professional advice) every Since 2008, there have been 238 member month from the RPA via their Development referrals to the service, with 50 referrals in the Manager. Such cases vary in seriousness but, 2017/18 season. The most common referrals at the extreme end of the spectrum, can be were for: extremely challenging. • Adjustment Disorders (including The RPA provide both current and former relationships, injury and career) players with access to a 24/7 confidential • Depression counselling service. This is funded entirely by • Anxiety For more information on or to work with the RPA on the Gain Line programme please contact Ben McGregor, Head of Gain Line: [email protected]