Rugby: Welsh players join PRA

Players from the top five clubs in Wales have joined the English-based Professional Rugby Players Association.

The PRA - rugby’s equivalent of football’s Professional Footballers’ Association - were also approached by Wales’ ‘Big Five’ to look after the clubs’ interests as well as the players.

Swansea, Cardiff, Newport, Bridgend and Llanelli have all signed a 10-year agreement that will see the PRA manage the clubs’ commercial interests and negotiate on their behalf the share of revenue generated from international matches.

‘‘This is a genuine and unique partnership between the players and the clubs and for the first time ever the players will have an active voice and a genuine vote in the running of the game in Wales,’’ said PRA chief executive Damian Hopley.