Australian Rugby Players Retaliate as They Do a Complete Boycott on Media Engagement

Often protests turn into violence as people find it the most effective way to get what they want. However, a recent protest has been arranged peacefully and looks like it’s gonna be effective.

The players from the Rugby League Player’s Association (RLPA) have collectively decided to boycott their engagement with the media. This was made official by the spokesperson who landed this severe blow in a press statement. The players did not seem happy about the stuck CBA agreement between NRL and ARL. This step has been taken in resistance to the organizations as they cannot come to terms with the proposed negotiations for the rugby players. 

RLPA players decide not to engage in any media interaction

In a recent interview, the spokesperson from the RLPA, on behalf of NRL and NRLW players released this statement, “It is a clear attempt to intimidate players into a deal that they believe undermines their rights, their voice and their control over their own careers, and unanimously they have agreed that they will not continue with these types of tactics.”

“ That is why, from Thursday 6 July, our players will be boycotting all broadcast and media engagements on days when NRL, NRLW, or State of Origin matches are scheduled. This includes pre-match, half-time, and post-match interviews, as well as press conferences and other media opportunities.”

From the mentioned dates, players will not be giving pre-match, post-match and mid-game interviews. This comes the resistance to the un-agreed clauses of the CBA (collective bargaining Agreement). The players feel that they have been deprived of certain facilities and this move was to receive them.  However, The NRL board and Australian Rugby League couldn’t accept the terms and it was termed as “disappointing” by the spokesperson.

This move lands just before an important ‘game III of State of Origin.’

This move directly affects the upcoming State of Origin game III

The Players will only engage with the official websites of NRL teams. This also comes as a hard hit to the upcoming State of Origin Game III. The players avoiding interviews will blow all the heat away from the rivalry between the Blues vs Maroons.

With the decision of engaging with the team websites only, it is a hard hit for other broadcasters as well.

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The committee members of NRL and the Australian Rugby League cannot come to agreeable terms on the negotiations. The negotiations included the reinstatement of players’ pre-covid entitlements and other such demands.

It is hoped that both the committees come to an agreement and an odd time for the NRL to start as the decision retracts all the pre-game, mid-game, and post-game interviews.

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