Voice on the pitch

Players want a say on all things Super League

Last updated: 9th February 2012   Subscribe to RSS Feed

We would like all the players to buy into 1eague3, get behind it and make our association something to be proud off. We want to forge commercial relationships that are beneficial for the players and allow us to put funds back into the education and welfare and protect player's interest in all aspects

Jon Wilkin
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They may be the fiercest of enemies on the pitch, but off the pitch the Super League players have all got together to create a new association.

1eague3 (League 13) has been set up so that the players have a say in how the game is run and are represented regarding some of the important issues in the game - and with 75% of the current Super League players joining up, it will be quite a voice!

"What is exciting about our game is the product and the players are that product," explained St Helens star and 1eague3 chairman Jon Wilkin.

"We would like all the players to buy into 1eague3, get behind it and make our association something to be proud off. We want to forge commercial relationships that are beneficial for the players and allow us to put funds back into the education and welfare and protect player's interest in all aspects."

League 13 is truly for the players and run by the players with Jamie Peacock and Lee Briers on the management committee.

Terry O'Connor is also involved as player ambassador and the next big step is for the association to get official recognition from the RFL so that they can have a say on the big decisions that affect the game and the players.

"It is our livelihood and I think we, as players, know the game as well as anybody," added Wilkin.

"We would like to be concerned in that process. I know the RFL have taken steps to acknowledge senior players in the game as individuals and seek their advice, but we want to canvas opinion from the full quota of players and really have a good fruitful relationship with the RFL and the clubs."

The new association has not impressed everyone though and GMB regional secretary Tim Roache believes that two trade unions for rugby league players could split the sport.

"I don't think there is a need for more than one trade union in rugby league - there is already the Rugby League players association which is part of the GMB union," explained Roache.

"The beauty and strength of that is the GMB is a massive organisation with 620,000 members and growing. That gives us huge resources - legal backup, industrial strength an negotiating experience - all the sort of things that rugby league players enjoy and should look forward to.

"The problem with an alternative organisation is that firstly they will not have the back up and support that a massive trade union would have and secondly it will divide the world of rugby in half and that is not going to help any player."

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