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Rugby Players' Association
The Rugby Players' Association (RPA) is a trade union representing elite rugby rugby union players in England. The RPA is the representative body and collective voice of elite rugby players in England and represents more than 600 male and female current rugby players, as well as more than 100 former players. Overview RPA members qualify for a wide range of benefits, including: independent representation; legal advice; personal and professional development; playing insurance; education; confidential counselling; transition support; and more. Members can also access the support of a charity, Restart, in the event of serious illness, injury or hardship. The RPA was founded by professional player Damian Hopley, who was forced to early retirement after an injury. The RPA announced that Hopley was to leave the organisation after 24 years in charge of the company. His last day was on Monday 15 August, with a visit to Wasps. On 16 January 2023, it was announced that Christian Day, wa ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Trade Union
A trade union (British English) or labor union (American English), often simply referred to as a union, is an organization of workers whose purpose is to maintain or improve the conditions of their employment, such as attaining better wages and Employee benefits, benefits, improving Work (human activity), working conditions, improving safety standards, establishing complaint procedures, developing rules governing status of employees (rules governing promotions, just-cause conditions for termination) and protecting and increasing the bargaining power of workers. Trade unions typically fund their head office and legal team functions through regularly imposed fees called ''union dues''. The union representatives in the workforce are usually made up of workplace volunteers who are often appointed by members through internal democratic elections. The trade union, through an elected leadership and bargaining committee, bargains with the employer on behalf of its members, known as t ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Harlequin F
Harlequin (, , ; , ) is the best-known of the comic servant characters (Zanni) from the Italian commedia dell'arte, associated with the city of Bergamo. The role is traditionally believed to have been introduced by the Italian actor-manager Zan Ganassa in the late 16th century, was definitively popularized by the Italian actor Tristano Martinelli in Paris in 1584–1585, and became a stock character after Martinelli's death in 1630. The Harlequin is characterised by his checkered costume. His role is that of a light-hearted, nimble, and Tricky slave, astute servant, often acting to thwart the plans of his master, and pursuing his own love interest, Columbina, Columbine, with wit and resourcefulness, often competing with the sterner and melancholic Pierrot. He later develops into a prototype of the romantic hero. Harlequin inherits his physical agility and his trickster qualities, as well as his name, from a mischievous "Devil in Christianity#Early Middle Ages, devil" character ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Schalk Brits
Schalk Burger Brits (born 16 May 1981) is a South African former professional rugby union player who last played for the South Africa national team and the in Super Rugby. He primarily played as a hooker. He was part of the 2019 Rugby World Cup-winning team, and is the oldest player to win a Rugby World Cup, aged 38 years, 170 days. Personal life Brits was born in Empangeni, KwaZulu-Natal and attended Paul Roos Gymnasium before going to Stellenbosch University. He married Colinda Wijnants on 29 January 2011 in Greyton, South Africa. Club career Western Province Brits played for the Western Province from 2002 to 2004 and rejoined the Cape franchise from 2006 to 2009. Stormers Brits played for the Stormers for four seasons making 51 appearances for them and managing to score 20 points. Saracens Brits made his debut for Saracens in the season opener against London Irish. He scored his first try for Saracens on 27 September 2009 against Gloucester in a 19–16 win. ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Leicester Tigers
Leicester Tigers (officially Leicester Football Club) are a professional rugby union club based in Leicester, England. They play in Premiership Rugby, England's top division of rugby. The club was founded in 1880 and since 1892 plays its home matches at Welford Road Stadium, Mattioli Woods Welford Road in the south of the city. The club has been known by the nickname Tigers since at least 1885. In the 2024–25 Premiership Rugby, 2024–25 Premiership Rugby season Tigers finished 2nd, losing the Premiership final, this entitled them to compete in the 2025–26 European Rugby Champions Cup. The current head coach is Geoff Parling who will join for the 2025–26 Premiership Rugby season. Leicester have won 21 major titles. They were European Champions twice, back-to-back in 2001 Heineken Cup Final, 2001 and 2002 Heineken Cup Final, 2002; have won a record 11 Premiership Rugby, English Championships, five RFU Knockout Cups and three Anglo-Welsh Cups, most recently in 2016-17 Anglo ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Harry Wells (rugby Union)
Harry Ronald Wells (born 29 September 1993) is an English rugby union player for Leicester Tigers in Premiership Rugby, the top division of rugby union. His primary positions are lock and flanker. He has also played for Nottingham and Bedford Blues in the RFU Championship, England second division. He has won one cap for the national team. He was a Premiership Rugby champion in 2022. Club career Wells made his debut for Leicester aged 19 in 2013 during an LV Cup game against Wasps at Welford Road. He joined Bedford Blues in 2014 initially on loan before making the move permanent that summer. Wells established himself in the side at lock playing more than 50 games across two and a half seasons. He featured for the side in the last Championship playoffs, after helping the side reach the top 4. In the summer of 2016 he re-joined Tigers as a member of the first team squad. He made his Premiership debut against Bristol in November 2016, he then made his first Premiership ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Saracens F
upright 1.5, Late 15th-century German woodcut depicting Saracens ''Saracen'' ( ) was a term used both in Greek and Latin writings between the 5th and 15th centuries to refer to the people who lived in and near what was designated by the Romans as Arabia Petraea and Arabia Deserta. The term's meaning evolved during its history of usage. During the Early Middle Ages, the term came to be associated with the tribes of Arabia. The oldest known source mentioning "Saracens" in relation to Islam dates back to the 7th century, in the Greek-language Christian tract '' Doctrina Jacobi''. Among other major events, the tract discusses the Muslim conquest of the Levant, which occurred after the rise of the Rashidun Caliphate following the death of the Islamic prophet Muhammad. The Roman Catholic Church and European Christian leaders used the term during the Middle Ages to refer to Muslims. By the 12th century, "Saracen" developed various overlapping definitions, generally conflatin ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Ivan Van Zyl
Ivan van Zyl (born 30 June 1995) is a South African rugby union player for Saracens. His regular position is scrum-half. Career Youth Van Zyl represented the Blue Bulls as early as primary school level, appearing at the Under-13 Craven Week competition in 2008. In July 2013, he also played for them at the premier South African high school rugby competition, the Under-18 Craven Week held in Polokwane. He made three appearances and scored two tries in a personal haul of 25 points. Van Zyl joined the Blue Bulls Academy after finishing high school and represented the side in the 2014 Under-19 Provincial Championship, starting ten matches and making two substitute appearances as they reached the final of the competition, where they were defeated 26–33 by . Under-20 Van Zyl was named in a 37-man training squad for the South Africa national under-20 rugby union team and featured for them in a friendly match against a Varsity Cup Dream Team in April 2015. He was also included in t ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Exeter Chiefs
Exeter Chiefs (officially Exeter Rugby Club) is an England, English professional rugby union club based in Exeter, Devon. They play in Premiership Rugby, England's top division of rugby. The club was founded in 1871 and since 2006 has played its home matches at Sandy Park, a purpose-built facility on the outskirts of the city. They have been known by the name Chiefs since 1999. The club was promoted to the Premiership Rugby, Premiership for the first time in 2010. Since promotion, the Chiefs have become one of the leading clubs in the Premiership, winning the championship title twice, in 2016–17 Premiership Rugby, 2016–17 and 2019–20 Premiership Rugby, 2019–20 respectively, and reaching a further four finals. In October 2020, the Chiefs won the 2019–20 European Rugby Champions Cup, Champions Cup, the top prize in European club rugby union, defeating French club Racing 92 in the final. Exeter are the only club to win the top four tiers of English rugby, winning the Pre ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Stuart Townsend (rugby Union)
Stu Townsend (born 11 October 1995) is an English rugby union scrum-half playing professionally for the Exeter Chiefs in Premiership Rugby. Early life Born in Torbay, Townsend was first introduced to rugby as a six-year-old at his local club Kingsbridge. He was educated at the local Primary and Community College before attending Ivybridge Community College, where he joined the Exeter Chiefs Academy system. Early career Townsend featured for England at various age levels, including that of the Under-20s, and also in the National Leagues with both Taunton Titans and the Cornish Pirates. Exeter Chiefs After playing regularly in the Championship Townsend was recalled to the Chiefs squad midway through the 16/17 season after injuries to fellow nines, Dave Lewis and Will Chudley. After a number of appearances off the bench both in the Premiership and Europe, on his first full starting appearance he scored a try against Leicester Tigers at Welford Road. He started the final as Exe ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Sale Sharks
Sale Sharks are a professional rugby union club from Greater Manchester, England, United Kingdom. Its team play in Premiership Rugby, and have been in England's top division of rugby union continuously since 1995. Originally founded in 1861 as Sale Football Club (which is now a Sale FC Rugby Club, distinct amateur club), it is one of the Oldest football clubs, oldest existing football clubs. It adopted the nickname ''Sharks'' in 1999. Since 2012 Sale have played their home games at the Salford Community Stadium in Barton-upon-Irwell, Eccles, Greater Manchester, Salford which they share with Salford Red Devils rugby league club. Between 1905 and 2003 they played at Heywood Road in Sale, Greater Manchester, Sale, before moving to Edgeley Park in Stockport where they stayed until 2012. Historically one of the leading teams in the Northern England, north of England, their traditional colours are blue and white. Domestically, Sale were Premiership champions in 2005-06 Premiership R ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Simon McIntyre
Simon McIntyre is an English rugby union prop forward for Sale Sharks. Career Born in Manchester, he joined his local club, Broughton Park RUFC, at the age of eight, and later represented England at U18 level. McIntyre started his professional career at Sale Sharks in 2009 as an academy player, appearing in five matches in the Aviva Premiership, Amlin Challenge Cup and LV=Cup. He signed for Wasps in 2011, making ten Premiership appearances in his first season. He played in the Wasps sides that reached the semi-finals of the 2015-16 European Rugby Champions Cup and finished Premiership runners-up in 2016-17 and 2019-20. On 28 July 2021 Sale Sharks announced that he had re-signed with them on a one-year contract for the 2021/22 season During his decade at Wasps, McIntyre had played in 184 matches and was an enduringly popular player with the fans. On his departure the Coventry Telegraph described him as 'a club legend'. In 2023 McIntyre played for Sale in the Premiership titl ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Bristol Bears
Bristol Bears (officially Bristol Rugby Club or Bristol Rugby) are a professional rugby union club based in Bristol, England. They play in Premiership Rugby, England's top division of rugby. The club was founded as Bristol Football Club in 1888; between 1921 and 2014, home matches were played at the Memorial Stadium (Bristol), Memorial Ground, and have since been played at Ashton Gate Stadium in the south-west of the city. The current head coach Pat Lam was appointed in 2017. In the 2024-25 Premiership Rugby, 2024–25 season Bristol finished 4th, losing in the play off semi-finals, entitling them to compete in the 2025-26 European Rugby Champions Cup. In 2018, the club rebranded as Bristol Bears; between 2001 and 2005 the club were known as Bristol Shoguns due to a sponsorship deal with Mitsubishi. Bristol won the 1982–83 John Player Cup, 1983 John Player Cup and have also won England's second division four times, most recently in 2017–18 RFU Championship, 2017–18. I ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
