Damian Hopley, Chris Malone, Richard Blaze, Maggie Alphonsi on the podcast
Preparing for life after rugby and celebrating a life-changing year are the themes of this week’s RFU Podcast.
We speak to Damian Hopley and Chris Malone, the chairman and vice chairman of the Rugby Players Association, about the impact their new funding agreement will make on the future health and welfare of the game’s professional players.
Former Leicester Tigers and England Saxons lock Richard Blaze reflects on his own injury-shortened career and England Women’s flanker Maggie Alphonsi looks back on a life-changing year that has brought her recognition on and off the pitch.
The £2.7million funding agreement with the RFU and Premiership Rugby will enable the RPA to put more player development managers in place working directly with players to provide education and vocational training.
Malone told the RFU Podcast: "I worked before playing professional rugby but most guys have come straight out of school without thinking too much about the future. As far as they see it the future is gaining recognition, playing for England and making a fortune. The reality is that rugby careers don’t last forever."
For the full interviews, check out today’s RFU Podcast. Here you can listen to the weekly podcast or subscribe to itunes and have it delivered straight to your inbox each week.
The RFU Podcast takes you inside English rugby from the grassroots to the elite.
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