England prop Ellis Genge is aiming to set up a new players’ union to “shake up the rugby scene” because he is dissatisfied with the way the issue of pay cuts was been handled during the coronavirus pandemic.
The 25-year-old Leicester star says he does not wish to replace the Rugby Players’ Association but he believes the organisation is too closely tied to the Rugby Football Union. The RPA receives funding from the RFU and Premiership Rugby.
Genge told the BBC’s Rugby Union Weekly podcast that he was in talks with interested parties over financing, although he was also seeking funding from players.
He said the RPA was “always going to lean in favour” of the RFU or Premiership Rugby, which he said was understandable.
“I am not trying to go against owners of clubs, or the RFU or the RPA. I think we can all work in tandem,” he said.
“But I do think it is time to shake up the rugby scene, and look after players — commercially, and in every aspect — a lot better.” Genge, along with teammate Greg Bateman, sought legal advice after being asked to take a 25% pay cut by Leicester, before being placed on the British government’s furlough scheme.
Genge said the issue had now been resolved but that seeking external advice had been the right decision.
“We are not making a new RPA,” he said. “I think they do really good stuff with welfare in rugby and they look after people really well.
“But I do feel that people were poorly advised (over the pay cuts). People were advised from the off to sign the contracts without reading them, almost.”
RPA chief executive Damian Hopley told the Daily Telegraph the union had helped players as much as possible during the discussions over pay cuts but said all parties would admit the situation could have been handled differently.


Australia’s NRL to play 20-round competition

Australia’s National Rugby League (NRL), which was interrupted after two rounds due to the COVID-19 pandemic, will resume as a 20-round competition on May 28, league commission chairman Peter V’Landys said yesterday. 
V’Landys, head of the independent board that oversees the game, made the announcement after “extensive consultation” with broadcast partners, clubs, and key stakeholders.
The grand final of the most popular winter sport in Australia’s eastern coastal states will be played on Oct. 25 and the competition draw will be determined in the next two weeks.
The two rounds of matches already played will be counted and the competition ladder remains in place when the games resume.
“Today is a landmark day for rugby league in 2020. This is a great outcome for our players, fans, partners and stakeholders,” V’Landys said in a statement, thanking the CEOs of broadcasters Nine and Foxtel for their backing. “I’m extremely appreciative for the cooperation and support from Hugh Marks and Patrick Delany. Both have always acted in good spirit and have demonstrated how partners work together.”
Training will recommence for clubs on May 4 amid stringent biosecurity measures and V’Landys said it was safer to play now than when they did in the second round of action.
“The daily infection rate in NSW was 25.79% when the last game was played. It has been now less than 1% in NSW for the last 18 days and is continuing to drop,” he added.
Australian states are starting to relax restrictions as the local rate of new infections slows. The country has recorded 84 deaths associated with the virus.