Rugby Australia’s proposed pay offer for the next collective bargaining agreement (CBA) has been strongly criticised by players, who say the terms fall short of expectations, particularly in relation to sharing revenue from hosting the 2027 Rugby World Cup. The Rugby Union Players Association (RUPA) described the offer as “unacceptable” and “not in the ballpark,” highlighting the exclusion of any portion of the projected $100 million World Cup earnings for the playing group.

The dispute has drawn support from key players, including Wallabies captain Harry Wilson and several prominent male and female internationals such as Angus Bell, Ben Donaldson, Maddison Levi, and Desiree Miller. Under the current CBA, Rugby Australia committed to allocating at least 29 percent of player-generated revenue to players. The new proposal raises that figure to 32 percent, but RUPA chief executive Adrian Turner argued this remains insufficient given the financial successes of recent events, including the 2025 British & Irish Lions tour and the upcoming World Cup.

Turner emphasised the importance of sufficiently compensating players to retain talent within the sport domestically. He noted ongoing losses of players not only overseas but also to rival codes such as the National Rugby League (NRL) in Australasia. “If we expect to compete for the best talent, we really need to compete in monetary terms,” Turner said, while acknowledging the need for the sport to operate within sustainable means.

According to sources close to the negotiations, Rugby Australia is cautious about overcommitting financially, mindful of past challenges following the 2003 World Cup when previous organisers exhausted $40 million of profit within a decade. Rugby Australia posted a $70.6 million profit last year, largely driven by the Lions tour revenue, but much of those funds went toward debt repayment. The governing body projects a loss for the 2026-27 financial year and plans to rely on World Cup revenue and profits from the 2029 women’s World Cup to support the sport through to the conclusion of its broadcasting deal in 2030. Unlike the National Rugby League and Australian Football League, whose broadcast deals run into the billions, Rugby Australia’s current rights deal is valued at $240 million, underscoring the significance of these tournament earnings in sustaining both professional and grassroots rugby.

RA chief executive Phil Waugh highlighted the strategic importance of the upcoming World Cups, describing them as “once-in-a-generation opportunities” to grow and secure the future of rugby in Australia. He outlined planned improvements in the new CBA submission, including increasing the minimum annual financial commitment to players to 32 percent, boosting base salaries across all full-time professional programs, developing a fully integrated women’s rugby program, expanding the full-time women’s sevens initiative, doubling the number of professional female contracts, and ensuring players benefit from commercial growth through raised salary caps.

Waugh stressed that Rugby Australia and Super Rugby clubs have already invested above the current CBA minimum levels throughout the existing agreement. However, Turner countered that the players’ contributions are central to generating the sport’s revenue, including that from marquee events, and insisted that players must receive a fair share of those earnings.

While the majority of Super Rugby clubs reportedly support Rugby Australia’s position, the deadline for finalising a new agreement is approaching rapidly on October 31. Should negotiations fail, players have indicated they could pursue actions ranging from boycotting sponsor events to, in the most serious scenario, industrial strikes. Both sides are set to continue discussions in the coming week in an effort to resolve the impasse.