Wallaroos stars to be hired on contracts in first for Australian rugby

Catie McLeod
February 11, 2023 12:38PM

Wallaroos stars will earn up to $54,000 this year as Rugby Australia takes a historic step towards contracting the national women’s 15-a-side team.

In a first for Australian rugby, up to 35 players will be given part-time contracts to guarantee their pay under the game’s new collective bargaining agreement.

Rugby Australia has committed $2m in additional funding for the contracts as it looks to cement its legacy as a local sport.

He’s usually a Rugby League man, but Anthony Albanese held a function at Kirribilli House on Saturday to endorse the new Wallaroos program.

He and Sport Minister Anika Wells hosted Wallaroos players and the new Wallabies Coach, Eddie Jones for a morning tea to celebrate.

“I want to congratulate Rugby Australia and all the players and trailblazers who negotiated, organised, sacrificed and worked together to progress the professionalisation of the women’s game,” the Prime Minister said.

“As the superstars of our Rugby Sevens have shown – the fastest and best way to grow the game is to inspire the next generation of women and girls to take part.

“Making sure current and future female superstars are paid a wage will play a huge part in that.”

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RIME MINISTER WALLAROOSIn the past, Wallaroos players were paid a daily rate. NCA NewsWire / Dylan Coker Credit: News Corp Australia
Sport Minister Anika Wells said it was a landmark step for Australian Rugby and “the first of many on the path” to greater professionalism for female players.

Rugby Australia has said its Sevens program – where the fully professional women’s squad is on pay parity with their male counterparts – is the “benchmark” for the governing body to emulate.


The sport’s collective bargaining agreement outlines the first step of a planned staged increase in investment over the next five years as Rugby moves towards a fully professional program.

The agreement was recently signed by Rugby Australia, the Rugby Union Players Association and Super Rugby Clubs.

In the past, Wallaroos players were paid a daily rate whenever they were with the team, but they will now be guaranteed a certain amount of take-home pay each year.

Rugby Australia chief executive officer Andy Marino said the sport had a “clear vision for the future of the game”.

“As we all know, you can’t be what you can’t see – we want our next heroes for the girls of Australia to be Wallaroos’ rising stars like Piper Duck, Grace Kemp and Eva Karpani,” he said.

A list of up to 35 Wallaroos players will be contracted across three tiers, with the potential to earn between $30,000 and $52,000 in RA payments for Wallaroos and Super W participation combined this year.

All Buildcorp Super W players will receive an RA-funded minimum payment of $4,000 in addition to club payments for the five-rounds-plus-Finals Super W season.

RA’s minimum payment is intended to be additional to club payments, meaning Super W clubs may contribute payments over and above the minimum RA payments.

The additional funding from RA will also cover new investment into the High-Performance programs at Super W clubs to enhance the coaching, strength and conditioning, medical and performance

A parenting and pregnancy guideline has been agreed upon in principle, meaning contracted Wallaroos players will still receive their full contract amount for the year while on maternity leave.

And there will be additional provisions for meals at training sessions and a contribution toward childcare for players with children up to age 12.

The next decade will be a significant one for Australian Rugby, with the British and Irish Lions Tour in 2025, the Commonwealth Games in 2026, the men’s Rugby World Cup in 2027, the women’s Rugby World Cup in 2029 and the Olympic Games in 2032.

https://www.perthnow.com.au/sport/wa...ugby-c-9724778