Big Test names among 5 candidates for RPA General Secretary

The Rugby Players Association have revealed the five candidates who are standing for election to become the RPA’s new General Secretary.

The eventual winner will replace Damian Hopley, who left the role of RPA CEO after 24 years earlier this year.

Players can vote for their preferred candidate. Voting starts today (Monday 12th December), and closes on Wednesday 4th January 2023. The winner will be declared on Monday 16th January 2023.

The candidates include former England fullback Mike Brown and Wales centre Jamie Roberts.

Mike Brown

Mike Brown made his debut for Harlequins during the 2005/06 season. The full-back went on to make 351 appearances, a record number for Harlequins and after winning two Premiership titles and one European Challenge Cup title, he moved on to play for Newcastle Falcons for the 2020/21 season. Brown also made 72 appearances for his country.

Christian Day

Christian Day retired from professional rugby at the conclusion of the 2017/18 season to embark on a new full-time position at the RPA, now as Head of Player Affairs. The second row represented Sale Sharks, Stade Français Paris and Northampton Saints over a career spanning 17 seasons. During that time, he made 220 Premiership appearances placing him 13th on the all-time appearances list as well as lifting two Premiership Rugby trophies, two European titles and an Anglo-Welsh Cup. Christian served as Chair of the RPA Players Board between 2014-2017.

Matt Garvey

Matt Garvey joined the RPA as Development Manager for Bath and Bristol in the summer of 2022, having retired at the end of the 2021/22 season. He ended a 13-year playing career that took him from London Irish, to Bath Rugby, then Gloucester and finishing at Worcester Warriors. He also won representative honours with England Saxons and captained Bath between 2017 and 2019 during his seven-year stint at The Rec. Garvey also sat on the RPA Players Board, as Representative for Gloucester between 2019-2021.

Mark Lambert

Having retired from a 17-year rugby career at Harlequins in the summer of 2020, Mark joined the RPA as Head of Rugby Policy. Mark represented England at age-group level, and Saxons. He won one Premiership title back in 2012, the LV= Cup in 2013 and one European title in 2011. Lambert went onto make over 250 appearances for Harlequins. Mark served as Chair of the RPA Players Board between 2017-2020.

Jamie Roberts

Jamie Roberts’ career spanned 16 years, playing for Cardiff, Racing 92, Harlequins, Bath, Harlequins, Stormers and the Dragons. He won 94 times for Wales, winning numerous Grand Slam titles as well as going on two Lion tours. Off-the-field, he has studied for several qualifications, including a medical degree from Cardiff University and MPhil at Cambridge University.