Mr. Tony Dempsey Chief Executive Officer of the Rugby Union Players’ Association today announced his retirement from the RUPA.

After 15 years with the organisation including being the founding President and almost 9 years as Chief Executive Officer Mr. Dempsey has advised the RUPA Board and its members of his intention to retire on 31 December 2009.

Mr. Dempsey has been appointed to act as a consultancy with the RUPA in 2010 to assist with the renegotiation of Australian Rugby’s Collective Bargaining Agreement.

During his tenure with the RUPA Mr. Dempsey:

* Negotiated an agreement with the ARU and State Unions in 1995 that recognised their support for the establishment of the RUPA;

* Was elected Foundation President of the RUPA in 1996 and steered it through the heady days of the transition from amateurism to professionalism;

* Presided over the negotiation of world rugby’s first ever Collective Bargaining Agreement in 1997 on behalf of RUPA’s members and secured further such agreements in 2001 and 2004 on behalf of the RUPA and its members;

* Was elected Founding Chairman of the International Rugby Players Association (“IRPA”) in 2001. IRPA is the peak body which represents the player associations from England, Ireland, Wales, France, Argentina, South Africa, New Zealand and Australia in respect of common international issues with the iRB;

* Assisting in the establishment of the PACD program in 2001 and its overall development since then;

* Established the RUPA’s player agent accreditation scheme in 2002 – world rugby’s first;

* Negotiated substantive changes to the terms of RWC Participation Agreement 2003;

* Was part of Australian Rugby’s design team that developed the Australian Rugby Championship domestic competition in 2006;

* Was elected Founding Chairman of the Australian Athletes Alliance (‘AAA”) in 2007. The AAA is a peak body representing Australian player associations from Cricket, Rugby League, AFL, Football, Netball, Swimming and Rugby on issues in common to their respective memberships ;

* Assisted in the establishment of the RUPA Foundation in 2008. The RUPA Foundation aims to have RUPA members engage with charities and community organisations to help them achieve their respective purposes;

* Was a member of the SANZAR Working party in 2008 and 2009 that designed the revamped Super Rugby competition that is due to commence in 2011.

Mr. Rod Kafer, President said: “Throughout the course of RUPA’s history no single person has made a greater contribution to the conditions of professional players work conditions than Tony Dempsey. On behalf of the members of the RUPA, past players and the RUPA Board I would like to congratulate and thank Tony on his efforts over many years and wish him well in his future endeavours. Tony has been retained by the RUPA to assist in next year’s renegotiation of the Collective Bargaining Agreement to ensure the standards of employment for players continues to be well represented into the immediate future”.

Mr. Al Baxter long standing RUPA Board member and Wallaby said: “It has been a pleasure to have worked with Tony on the RUPA Board for the past 5 years, his passion and dedication to the game and the players was extraordinary. The professional players are deeply grateful for the enormous contribution he has made to our welfare and working conditions and wish him all the very best for the future’’.

Mr. Dempsey said: “I have for some time been considering the right time to depart the organisation and I believe the timing is now appropriate. The organisation is in very good shape.

My time with the RUPA has been a very rich, satisfying and rewarding one filled with many great experiences. I was lucky enough to be involved in the cut and thrust of the advent of the professionalism of rugby in the heady days of 1995 and to have helped Australian Rugby manage that transition from amateurism to what is now a fully matured professional sport. Along the journey RUPA has managed to build a number of valuable programs including the RUPA/ARU Personal and Career Development Program, the RUPA agent accreditation scheme, the RUPA Foundation and generally ensure Australia’s players enjoy tremendous work conditions. RUPA has also managed to have an influence on international rugby affairs being a founder of the IRPA which has brought about awareness of player injury and burnout issues and addressed the outdated RWC Player Participation Agreement of 2003.

It has been a pleasure serving the membership and I will treasure these memories.
 
I would especially like to thank the following people who have made it possible for the RUPA to achieve its milestones over the years:

Rod Kafer, George Gregan, Phil Kearns, Andrew Blades, John Langford, Glen Panoho, Daniel Herbert, David Croft, John Roe, Adam Freier, Al Baxter, Stirling Mortlock, Nathan Grey, Matt Burke, John Welborn, Jeremy Paul, Justin Harrison – all of whom have made a significant contribution to the RUPA at varying levels over the past 15 years.

I would like to give special mention to Rod Kafer for his passion and energy in providing strategic leadership over the past 4 years as President, Phil Kearns for his instrumental role in helping to secure RUPA recognition from the ARU and State Unions in 1995 (and more lately his excellent work with the PACD program), John Welborn for his loyal and steadfast commitment and energy to the workings of the RUPA Board over many years Al Baxter and Adam Frier for their energy and ability in serving on the board for over 5 years and finally George Gregan for his unswerving support of the RUPA generally and more specifically during  the 2003 RWC Participation Agreement dispute.”

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