An independent players’ union to promote and protect the interests of players in the Premier 15s has been launched in a landmark development for women’s club rugby in England.

The Women’s Rugby Association (WRA) will act as a collective voice for players in the country’s top domestic league with Danielle Waterman, the former England international and World Cup winner, acting as its CEO. 

The body will serve as an independent entity from the Rugby Players Association – which only represents professional male and female players – and enable players to air concerns around contracts. It will also advocate for consistent medical and welfare provision across the Premier 15s. 

Last season, a number of clubs appeared to be deviating from the standard Premier 15s player contract after not arranging and paying for treatment for injuries sustained by players while on duty for their clubs.

Bristol Bears player Alisha Butchers was forced to crowdfund for surgery for an ankle injury she sustained in action in the league. Her club part-funded her medical costs – which drew widespread criticism at the time – although the Wales international said she was unaware that her contract stated Bristol’s insurance would not cover all of her treatment. 

Waterman, who played for Bristol and Wasps during her career, said offering advice to players in the league was “so desperately needed” to help push the women’s game towards a “much better place.” 

“The expectation that is put on premiership players now is up there with what I would see as an international player,” Waterman told Telegraph Sport. “For them to have the support, the guidance and the opportunity to have that collective voice is so important. 

“While the game is growing at the rate that it is – the performances are absolutely flying through the roof – it’s the players that are doing the hard work on the field and making the sacrifices who are not having a say in shaping what this looks like going forward.

“For the younger players, how do you invoice for a player appearance? What happens with your tax? What do the contracts look like? What does the legal terminology mean? If we can be that helping hand for the players, it’s only going to make their lives easier and enable them to really focus on rugby.” 

In another example of how player welfare in the league has been called into question, Covid testing was introduced in the RFU-run Premier 15s 199 days after it was for the men’s Premiership.

A spokesperson from the RFU, which runs the Premier 15s, welcomed the WRA launch and that it was “looking forward to working with them to support players.”

Analysis: WRA launch another significant milestone for women’s rugby

The introduction of a players’ union for Premier 15s players is a milestone that cannot be underestimated for the women’s game in England. 

The semi-professional league has increasingly grown in profile and is now seen as a leading destination for female players around the world. But off the pitch, scores of players – the majority of whom juggle rugby with other day jobs – have been left in the dark on what their rights are as elite amateur athletes. I have even received private messages from Premier 15s players asking questions related to their club contract who have been crying out for a representative body to turn to.

To illustrate just one example, there appears to be no requirement for Premier 15s clubs to participate in a player insurance scheme, which is mandatory for clubs in the men’s Premiership. 

This was highlighted when Wales international Alisha Butchers made headlines earlier this year after being forced to crowdfund for ankle surgery after suffering an injury while on duty for Bristol Bears.