The RUPA Advantage Line Newsletter (#3) by The Rugby Union Players' Association Inc.

CAITLYNHALS#210

PDP UPDATE - JAMES HOLBECK (#737)

InlateJuly,thePlayerDevelopmentManagersparticipated inacomprehensiveAdvantageLineStrategyDayheldin Sydneyoveraspanofthreedays.Theprimaryobjective wastoenhanceourunderstandingofleveragingthe InductionCampprocesstogainvaluableinsightsintothe players.Theseinsightsareintendedtobesummarizedina detailedreportthatcanbeutilizedtoassistcoachesin theirongoingworkwiththeplayerswithintheteam environment.

Duringthestrategyday,wecollaboratedcloselywith RugbyAUHeadofIntegrityAmyThorp,focusingon strategiestobettersupportplayersinmakingmore informedandethicaldecisions Thiscollaborationaimedto ensurethatourapproacheswerealignedandeffectivein fosteringpositivedecision-makingamongtheplayers.

Additionally,webuiltuponourexistingpartnershipwithEverythingMentalToughness (EMT) EMTFounder,PaulLyons,ledasessionwhereheintroducedthegrouptothe foundationalelementsofmeasurementthatdrivetheSkillsforLifeprogram.Thisprogram isdesignedtoenhanceplayers'mentalresilienceandpersonaldevelopment,andPaul’s insightsprovidedvaluablecontextandunderstandingofhowthesemeasurements contributetotheprogram'ssuccess.

Overall,thestrategydaywasaproductiveandinsightfulexperience,layingthe groundworkforimprovedsupportmechanismsanddevelopmentstrategiesforplayers.

TOMROBERTSON -RUPAPRESIDENT

Wallabynumber898,TomRobertson,wasrecentlyappointedtotheRUPA BoardasPresident,reflectinghiscommitmenttoplayerwelfareand developmentwithintheAustralianRugbyecosystem.TomisaMonashand TommyLawtonSeniorOxfordScholar,whilstalreadyholdingaBachelorof MedicalScience,MasterofPublicHealthandaMasterofPhilosophyMedicine.WelookforwardtoworkingalongsideTomincontinuingto advocateandsupportRUPAMemberstobebetterplayers,peopleandlive betterlives.

“IFIRMLYBELIEVEINTHEGOALSANDNECESSITYOFPLAYER REPRESENTATION,ANDI,ALONGSIDEMANYOTHERS,HAVEBENEFITED IMMENSELYFROMTHESUPPORTOFRUPATHROUGHOUTMYCAREER. SECONDLY,IAMPASSIONATEABOUTCREATINGTHEBESTPOSSIBLE ENVIRONMENTFORPROFESSIONALRUGBYPLAYERSINAUSTRALIA, AIMINGTOMAKEITTHEBESTINTHEWORLD.”

NICKMALOUF-LIFEAFTERRUGBY

FormerMen’sRugbySevensCaptainand3-timeOlympian,NickMalouf, recentlyretiredfromthegameandhasstartedanewcareerjourneyin financeattheCommonwealthBankofAustralia.NickattendedaRUPA NetworkingSessionatthestartoftheyearwherehedevelopedmeaningful connectionswithfinanceleaders.Followingtheevent,Nickreachedoutto RUPA’snetworkandarrangedfurthercatch-upswithcareermentors.This ledtoaninterviewatCommBank,wherehenowworksasaSenior AssociateinTradeFinanceSales.

“THERUPAAUSSIESEVEN’SNETWORKINGEVENTPROVIDEDAN EXCELLENTOPPORTUNITYTOEXPANDMYNETWORKBEYOND RUGBY.LEVERAGINGRUPA’SEXTENSIVECONNECTIONS,THEY CURATEDASELECTIONOFINDUSTRYLEADERS.FOLLOWING ADDITIONALMEETINGSAFTERTHENETWORKINGEVENT,IWAS ABLETOSECUREFUTUREEMPLOYMENTATCOMMONWEALTH BANKAUSTRALIA...THANKSTOTHERELATIONSHIPSIDEVELOPED”

-NICKMALOUF

RUPAPLAYERDIRECTOR HENRY

HUTCHISON-AUSTRALIANOLYMPIC COMMITTEE

RUPAPlayerDirector,HenryHutchison,wasrecentlyappointmenttothe AustralianOlympicCommittee(AOC)Athletes’Commission.Knownforhis leadershipanddedicationbothonandoffthefield,Henrybringsvaluable insightsintotheathleteexperience,havingrepresentedAustraliainthe Olympics3times.Hisnewrolewillseehimserveasavoiceforcurrentand futureOlympians,advocatingfortheirrights,welfareanddevelopment.

“ITISANIMMENSEHONOURTOBEELECTEDASONEOFTHE10ATHLETES ONTHEAUSTRALIANOLYMPICCOMMITTEE'SATHLETES'COMMISSION. I'MEAGERTOCONTRIBUTEDIRECTLYTOENSURINGTHATALL AUSTRALIANATHLETESRECEIVETHEBESTSUPPORTANDPREPARATION LEADINGUPTOTHELOSANGELES2028OLYMPICGAMES.“

SON

ANNUALBDORUPARUGBYPLAYERS

LUNCH-SAVETHEDATE

TheAnnualBDORugbyPlayersLunch, recognisestheremarkabletalentsthatdefine Australianrugbylegends,wherevarious awardsaregiventoplayerswhocontinueto exemplifyexcellenceinthegame.

Date:Thursday5thofDecember2024

Time:12pmonwards

Venue:TheFullertonHotel,MartinPlace

Clickheretobookyourtable

Forpastplayerswishingtoattend,contactananyab@rupa.com.au

RUPAANDWORLDRUGBY-BRAIN HEALTHSERVICE

TheWorldRugbyBrainHealthServiceisnowliveandavailabletosupport formerrugbyunionplayerstoundergoahealthscreeningprocess.The serviceprovidesahealthreporttorecommendmodifiablelifestylehabitswith aviewtoimprovingqualityoflifeorprovidingreferralsforfurthertestingif required.Clickheretoreadmore.

Theserviceisavailabletoanymaleandfemaleretiredplayerswhohave competedatanInternationalorSuperRugbylevel.

“TOBEABLETOACCESSAFREE,HEALTHCHECKSERVICETHATWILLPROVIDE GUIDANCEFORPASTPLAYERSONBRAINANDGENERALHEALTHISA RECOGNITIONTHATALLPLAYERSAREVALUED,ANDTHATASSISTANCEIS AVAILABLE.

RUPAISCONTINUALLYLOOKINGTOPROVIDEAMEANINGFUL,REALISTICAND CONSISTENTSUITEOFSUPPORTSERVICESTOBOTHITSCURRENTANDPAST PLAYERS,THISISATIMELYADDITIONTOTHERUPAENVELOPEOFCARE”

-RUPACEOANDWALLABY#770JUSTINHARRISON

TELUSHEALTH-MENTALHEALTHAND WELLBEING

RugbyAU’spartner,TelusHealth,formerlyknownasBenestar,isaleading providerofhealthandwellbeingservices,providingmemberswith resourcesandspecialisedservicestosupportmentalwellbeing.

ThroughtheirnewEmployeeAssistanceapp,AustralianRugbyUnionplayers (pastandpresent),staff,andtheirfamilies,have24/7accesstoarangeof wellbeing/supportservicestoassistinnavigatinglife'schallenges.Aspartof thispartnership,memberswillhaveaccessto6complimentaryand confidentialsessionswithclinicalspecialists,perwellbeingissue.

Suchissuesincludeaddiction,family,relationships,traumaandother professionaladvicesuchasnutrition,financeandlegalservices.This partnershipisinconjunctionwiththeRugbyUnionPlayers'Association (RUPA),MemberUnionsandClassicWallabies,toprovidememberswith holisticmental,emotional,andphysicalwellbeingservicestothebroader Australianrugbycommunity.

“FOROURRUGBYCOMMUNITYTOHAVE UNFETTEREDYETCONFIDENTIALACCESS TORESOURCESANDSPECIALISED SERVICESWILLHELPEQUIPTHEMTO ADDRESSANYCHALLENGESTHEYMAYBE FACING,ONANDOFFTHEFIELD"

BDO-CASHFLOWTIPSFOR

PROFESSIONALATHLETES

Financialmanagementiscriticalforprofessionalathletes.Theunique natureoftheirprofessionmakesmanagingcashflowcrucialforcreating financialsecurity.

Thosewiththeopportunitytocompeteatthehighestlevelsofsporthave excitingearningpotential-butthisphaseoflifewon’tlastforeverand, throughinjury,couldendwithoutamoment’snotice.Thiscombinationof highcashflowwithatremendouslyuncertainfuturemakesforaunique dilemma.Athletesneedtoactivelymanagetheircashflowfromthestartof theircareer,ensuringasecureplanforincomechangesandretirement.

So,howcanathletesbusywinningonthefieldorinthegymtoday,structure theirfinancestosetthemselvesupforvictorytomorrow?

MakeaFinancialPlan

Yourteammatesandfellowathletesarelikelypaidverydifferentlytoyou, especiallyifyouareatdifferentstagesinyoursportingcareer,areplaying othersports,orhaveachievedvaryingdegreesofsuccess.Somemaybe earningtentimesasmuchasyou,particularlyifyou’reayoung,emerging player.It’sthereforeimportanttounderstandthatdespitethebarbeque banterandpubtalk,theinvestmentsandstrategiesyourpeersarepursuing maynotbeappropriateforyourpersonalneedsandobjectives.

Tocreateafinancialplanwithcashflowbudgeting,youfirstneedtoknow thefollowingcomponentsofyourpersonalsituation:

Assets–lifestyleassetsvs.financialassets

Liabilities–mortgages,creditcards,carloans,investmentloans,etc.

Income–salary,bonus,sponsorships

Expenses–fixedvs.discretional,agentfees,deductiblevsnondeductible

Timeframe–professionalplayingyearsarefinite.

BDO-CASHFLOWTIPSFOR

PROFESSIONALATHLETES

Needsandobjectives

Thefoundationofafinancialplanisbasedonyourpersonalgoalsand whatyouwanttoachieveinlife.Agoodplanshouldensureyoucan achievethesegoalsinthebestwaypossible,whetherthrough appropriateinvestments,taxstructures,ortax-effectivestrategies,whilst enjoyinglifeasmuchaspossiblealongtheway,withoutsacrificing financialsecuritypost-retirementfromsport.

Yourgoalsmayinclude:

Buyingahome

Startingabusiness

Supportingyourfamily

Achievingfinancialfreedomby40

Takingtwoholidaysayearforever,or;

Owningajet.

Nomatterthegoal,it’simportanttousethisasaguidetoyour financialstrategies.

Teamupwithatrustedadviser

It’sequallyimportanttoshareyourgoalsandanyprospective investmentopportunitiespresentedtoyouwithyourfinancialadviser.An athlete’srelationshipwiththeirfinancialadvisershouldbeadynamic oneinwhichbothpartiesexchangeideasandareinsync.Youradviser shouldn’tbemakingdecisionsforyouontheirown.

Conversely,theworldoffinanceiscomplexandyoudon’tknowwhatyou don’tknow,sohavinganadvisertohelpyouavoidinvestmentpitfalls andassistyoutomakebetter-informeddecisionscansaveyoutime, money,andheartache.

BDO-CASHFLOWTIPSFOR

PROFESSIONALATHLETES

Creatingaback-upplan

Whencreatingafinancialplan,changesincontracts,shiftsinteams,and career-endinginjuriesneedtobeconsidered.It’snotuncommonforan athlete’ssalarytochangebetweencontractsorstopintheoff-season,and ifyouaren’tfinanciallypreparedforsuchturnarounds,itcancomeasa shock.

Toaccountfortheuncertaintyofthisprofession,youcan:

Maintainlowdebtlevels

Maintainalifestylethat’srealisticandwithinyourmeans Aimtohaveatleasttwoyearsoflivingneedsincashatalltimes

Seekprofessionaladvicetomakebetter-informeddecisions

Usesurpluscashtobuyfinancialassetsthatwillappreciateandprovide agrowingincomestream

Havetransferrableskillstomakeyourselfasemployableaspossible,very fewathletesbecomecoachesorcommentators

Takeoutpersonalriskinsurancetoprovidefinancialsecurity.Insurance canbehardtoobtainforathletesduetotheriskofclaimsbeinghigh, however,therearesolutionsavailable.

Avoidexcessivedebt

Becausemanyathletespeakintheircareersatayoungage,it’soften temptingtocashinthatfirstbigpaycheckforsomethingflashyand expensive.Itcanalsobeeasytograduallyslipintoalifestylecreepwiththe habitofblindlypurchasingbecausemoneyisregularlyrollingin.

BDO-CASHFLOWTIPSFOR

PROFESSIONALATHLETES

Borrowingtoinvestcanbeagreatwaytobuildwealth,butthelastthing youwanttodoistakeonexcessivedebttobuyassetsbasedonyour incometoday.Throughinjury,yourcareercanendintheblinkofaneye andyoucouldfindyou’resuddenlydrowningindebtyoucan’taffordto servicebecauseyou’renotearningtheincomeyou’reaccustomedto.

Beingabletoearnanincomeisyourbiggestassetandwealthcreation tool.Focusingonwhatmattersandknowingyourfinancesarelooked afterwillcreatepeaceofmind,allowingyoutomaintainyourpeak athleticperformanceandsleepwellatnight

Needsomehelpmanagingyourcashflow?

BDO’sspecialistsportingindustryadvisersareheretohelp.Ourteam workwithprofessionalathletesregularlyandcanhelpyoutakecontrolof yourcashflow.Contactusbyemailingwilliam.tuffley@bdo.com.au.

ROBERTWALTERS

RUPA’sOfficialRecruitmentPartner,RobertWalters,recentlypresenteda careerdevelopmentseriesfortheNSWWaratahsplayers,spanningthree sessionsatNSWRugbyUnionHeadquarters. Thesessionsincluded:

TheRobertWaltersteam,consistingofAndrewHanson,RobertKruger,Alison Newsome,SarahGillardandDanConnors,providedactionablestrategiesto equipplayersforasuccessfultransitionintothejobmarketaftertheirrugby careers

ROBERTWALTERS

“THERECENTPROFESSIONALDEVELOPMENTSESSIONSWITHROBERT WALTERSWEREANEXCELLENTCHANCEFORUSASPLAYERSTOTAKEALOOK ATLIFEOUTSIDEOFRUGBYANDSTARTPLANNINGFOROURNEXTCAREER STAGE.THEROBERTWALTER’SSTAFFWERESUPERHELPFULAND INFORMATIVEGIVINGUSABETTERPERSPECTIVEONHOWWECAN MAXIMISEOURPLATFORMASPLAYERSANDUNDERSTANDTHEVALUEWE CANOFFERASPROFESSIONALATHLETES.IPERSONALLYCANNOTTHANK ANDREWANDTHETEAMENOUGHANDLOOKFORWARDTOCONNECTING WITHTHEMINTHEFUTURETOCONTINUETODEVELOPANDGROW”

ROBERTWALTERS-RESOURCES

Pastandcurrentplayershaveaccesstospecialisedone-on-oneor groupappointmentswithRobertWalters’RecruitmentSpecialistsforthe purposeofdevelopingCVwritingskills,interviewskills,identifying transferableskillsandidentifyingcareeropportunitiestoassistthemin theirpost-rugbytransitionjourney.

SeebelowresourcesfromRobertWalters,craftedforRUPAmembersto assistintheircareerandeducationinnavigatingthejobmarket:

COREYADAMSON-WESTERNFORCE

PERSONALDEVELOPMENTSESSION

CoreyAdamsoncaptivatedtheWesternForcewithhisinvaluableinsights duringarecentpresentationfocusingontheimportanceofnetworking andpersonalbranding.FormerlyaMajorLeagueBaseball(MLB)player, CoreyspentadecadeplayingacrosssevencitiesintheUSA.Helater transitionedbacktoAustraliaasan“Internationalrookie”fortheWest CoastEaglesAFLteam,inadditiontorepresentingthePerthHeatand Australiannationalbaseballteam.

Despitehisimpressivesportingcareer,Coreyfacedunexpectedchallenges whentransitioningoutofprofessionalsportashestruggledtofindwork. Corey’sbreakthroughcamethroughleveraginghisextensivenetworkand focusingonpersonalbranding.Hechallengedtheplayerstovalue networkingandpersonaldevelopment,emphasizingthatbuildingastrong networkandapersonalbrandisvitalforcareersuccess,bothduringand afterasportscareer.

WesternForcePlayer,SamCarter:

“Coreygaveusanhonestinsightintothestrugglesprofessionalathletes canfaceaftertheyfinishplayingsports,andhowthelessonshelearnedin hisathleticcareerhavehelpedhimsucceedandfindanewidentityasa realestateagent.”

RUPA’snewpartner,TheLondonAcademyofTrading(LAT),isafinancial tradingeducationprovider,incoursessuchas:

TradingFoundations

Cryptocurrency

TradingPsychology

EquityInvesting

WealthManagement

ThiscollaborationmarksasignificantadditiontoRUPA’ssuiteofsupport servicesforwardinprovidingplayerswithcomprehensivecareer developmentopportunities.

Throughthispartnership,pastandpresentplayers(andtheirfriendsand family),willhaveaccesstoavarietyofLAT'sprogramsatVIPpricing, includingshortcourses,diplomas,andadvancedcertifications.Clickbelowto accessLATcourses: