NZRPA Hospitality NZRPA Quarterly

Player Personal and Professional Development Program

The Player Personal and Professional Development Program (the PDP) is part and parcel of the philosophy of rugby in New Zealand. The joint venture between the New Zealand Rugby Players’ Association (NZRPA) and the New Zealand Rugby Union (NZRU) is a performance enhancing program which aims to provide New Zealand contracted players with the tools to build a successful career, now and post rugby.

The program, which is funded by the Player Payment Pool, sends a strong message of the importance our sport places on looking after its own and being the best we can be.

Established in 2001, the program today employs 14 Provincial Union and S15 Franchise based Professional Development Managers.

Our Professional Development Managers are:

Ben Meyer – Auckland Rugby Football Union and Blues Franchise
Martin Ewen – Bay of Plenty Rugby Union
Aaron Mauger – Canterbury Rugby Football Union and Crusaders Franchise
Janine Manning – Counties Manukau Rugby Union
Conrad Waitoa – Hawkes Bay Rugby Union
Farah Palmer – Manawatu Rugby Union
Hannah Myers – North Harbour Rugby Union
Alan Ingles – Northland Rugby Union
Peter Sinclair – Otago Rugby Union and Highlanders Franchise
Jason McKenzie – Southland Rugby Union
Colleen Coplestone – Taranaki Rugby Union
Shaaron Adams – Tasman Rugby Union
Judy Clement – Waikato Rugby Union and Chiefs Franchise
Steven Symonds – Wellington Rugby Union and Hurricanes Franchise

Your PDM can assist if you have questions with regards to:

  • Agents
  • Contracting
  • Obtaining independent legal advice
  • Employment rights and obligations (Collective Bargaining Agreement)
  • Eligibility issues and loan player information
  • Super 15 selection and draft process
  • Playing overseas
  • KiwiSaver
  • The Long Term Loyalty Plan (superannuation scheme available to S15 and 7’s contracted players)
  • Insurances including the TOWER Insurance player group scheme
  • Obtaining sound investment advice
  • Accessing accountancy advice
  • Personal issues such as alcohol, drugs, gambling, mental health and relationship problems.
    • Instep Ltd provides all contracted players with access to confidential advice and support from highly qualified counsellors, therapists and psychologists throughout New Zealand who can either be accessed through your PDM or directly on 0800 284 678 or through their website (www.insteplimited.com) . Your username is: inst699 and your password is wandm.
  • Involvement in a community project or a charitable cause


and facilitate up-skilling opportunities in the following areas:

  • Education (tertiary education courses including extramural and online options as well as trade training)
  • Leadership and self awareness
  • Financial management and budgeting
  • Time management
  • Career consulting, planning and management including CV writing, work experience opportunities and job search.
    • Work experience opportunities are also available with all NZRPA business partners. If you would like to know more, please contact David at david.gibson@nzrpa.co.nz  
  • Communication and presentation skills
  • Media skills
  • IT / Video Analysis
  • Nutrition
  • Injury management skills
  • Performance management skills


The services of the Professional Development Managers are also available to Academy and former players.

If you would like to know more about the program or contact one of our PDM’s please contact David Gibson on david.gibson@nzrpa.co.nz or 021 707 208.

 

 

 

 

 

  
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