The Quad-Lemma: how the Rugby Players Association Benevolent Fund was establish to address the welfare needs in the professional format of rugby union |
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| Authors: | Lindsey E Gaston |
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| Institution: | School of Sport Studies, Leisure and Nutrition, Liverpool John Moores University, Liverpool, UK |
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| Abstract: | This article looks at the evolution of retirement preparation for male professional rugby union athletes in the English Premiership. Rugby union became a professional sport in 1995 allowing rugby to become a stand-alone career. This alteration in employment structure resulted in stronger athletes, thus resulting in an increase of injury making a career in sports more uncertain. In an effort to address the growing concern of injury-induced retirement, the Rugby Players’ Association’s created the Benevolent Fund1 in 2001. The Foundation was to provide assistance to players during times of injury and provide educational opportunities to assist in career transition. This article highlights how the transition to a professional game created the ‘Quad-Lemma’ of rugby injury and how the Rugby Players Association was created to address the welfare concerns of the new professional format of rugby union. |
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