Ethan Waller elected RPA Chairman

Warriors loosehead prop Ethan Waller has been elected the new Chairman of the Rugby Players Association.

Waller, Warriors’ club representative on the RPA Players’ Board, succeeds Mark Lambert of Harlequins as Chairman of the players’ union.

As well as being closely involved in key discussions in the game, Waller also won the RPA Vodafone Gain Line Award last season for a busy personal development programme, including the Slice Slice Baby pizza business.

“I’m delighted to be stepping into this new role after my last few years with the RPA,” Waller said.

“Mark Lambert has done an exceptional job as Chairman and having him to learn from will be invaluable.

“I care deeply about player welfare and the sport that we are all lucky enough to call a profession, but I do believe there are some fundamental improvements that can be made, with the assistance of the RPA as a collective.

“I’m looking forward to doing my part to make the profession and the game safer, more enjoyable, and rewarding for each and every player.”

Waller will have fellow prop Jake Cooper-Woolley of Sale Sharks as his Vice Chair – succeeding Phil Burgess – as well as two new advisory boards. The Diversity and Inclusion Board will be player chaired, and will provide a vital communication channel to the RPA membership. The Welfare Advisory Board will combine expert opinion and current
and retired player input on a wide range of welfare and medical issues facing the professional game.

“On behalf of all the members and team at The RPA we want to extend a very sincere and big thank you to Mark and Phil for their incredible contribution to the Players’ Board and the game during their time in office,” said RPA Group CEO Damian Hopley.

“Mark has consistently held the players’ best interest at heart and been a voice of reason in these unparalleled times, while Phil has been a crucial pillar of support throughout. They leave the game and the RPA in a better place and we are excited to be working with Ethan and Jake at a time when player welfare has never been more imperative to all stakeholders.”

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