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Damian Hopley to stand down as RPA chief executive after 24 years

By PA

08 Jul 2022

Damian Hopley, chief executive of the Rugby Players Association.

Damian Hopley is to step down as Rugby Players’ Association chief executive ahead of next season.

The RPA announced Hopley’s departure from the role after 24 years with an organisation that he founded.

“As the face of the RPA since founding the organisation in 1998, he has led us through a remarkable period of development, establishing and growing the RPA as a leading player representation organisation in global sport,” the RPA said.

“During this time, the RPA has successfully represented and supported thousands of female and male, current and former players.

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“The RPA has delivered some momentous welfare wins for the membership over the years, not least securing millions of pounds of investment into player welfare, insurance and our world-leading personal development programmes.”

Damian Hopley MBE will be stepping down as CEO ahead of the 2022/23 season after 24 years . What an innings by Hoppers @theRPA
— chris jones (@chrisjonespress) July 8, 2022

Hopley, 52, won three caps for England, and was a member of the 1995 World Cup squad in South Africa.

“We are all indebted to Damian for his outstanding contribution to the sport in England and around the world over the years,” the RPA added.

“The RPA will be conducting a strategic review in order to ensure that as an organisation we move forward fit for the future and prepared for the challenges and opportunities that our players will face, so that we can support and represent them in the most effective way possible.”

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Comments on RugbyPass

NB 11 minutes ago

Why New Zealand learned more from their July series than France

Tbh I don’t think either 10 played particularly well JW.

266 Go to comments

NB 16 minutes ago

Why New Zealand learned more from their July series than France

Yes these guys may not stick around for long but they can still impact the game positively with their ideas.

266 Go to comments

NB 18 minutes ago

Why New Zealand learned more from their July series than France

Yes no reason for Razor to just chuck him in at the deep end at 10. Why not give him a chance to succeed at the spot he knows best first?

266 Go to comments

NB 23 minutes ago

Why New Zealand learned more from their July series than France

Defence is a little bit of a problem at 10. Ramos is not a good front line defender and Jalibert’s frailties are known. So who is the best newcomer in behind Ntamack? Hugo Reus?

266 Go to comments

BA 26 minutes ago

All Black Leicester Fainga’anuku's NPC return confirmed

12/13/ wing for the bench I reckon

15 Go to comments

NB 26 minutes ago

Why New Zealand learned more from their July series than France

I think you’re underselling Hastoy a little bit there S. I reckon he’s a better player than that, nor am I convinced Ntamack is such a great game manager at 10 without a strong influence at 9 like Lucu or Dupont inside him. Hastoy takes on more responsibility at LAR than Ntamack does with Toulouse. And I certainly do not know why they started Segonds ahead of him in the first two Tests. Was he unfit?

266 Go to comments

Jimmy 27 minutes ago

The stat in which the Springboks outperformed everyone fivefold in July

All Black pundits blowing smoke………🤔

2 Go to comments

BA 31 minutes ago

Nobody runs the show like Beauden - Why the All Blacks need Barrett now, and at Rugby World Cup 2027

I thought it was a sabbatical which he has had twice?

44 Go to comments

JW 33 minutes ago

Why New Zealand learned more from their July series than France

Even though they drew with France last year?

I haven’t watched the games or followed URC to know if its those same form players though. We’ll have to revisit this come 6N time.

266 Go to comments

NB 35 minutes ago

Why New Zealand learned more from their July series than France

Not sure about the Auradou-Brennan equation. I think Auradou is a lineout caller so that may count heavily in his favour.

Depoortere is a good un, but I feel he is already ‘there’ in Galthie’s thoughts before hte tour ever happened! Part of the 2027 group, if you like rather than a newcomer to it.

Mallez I will watch with interest, esp if he can play both sides of the scrum as someone said.

266 Go to comments

JW 35 minutes ago

Why New Zealand learned more from their July series than France

Correct by Nick??!! HAHAHAHA he doesn’t even watch SR dude lol

And as I have probably told you already (and Nick has made the point many times as well if you like him as your prophet) one off games do you a lot of good.

Fair enough though that 2017 season was a good go at it, it’s just 2025 now Fran.

You clearly do not follow All Black rugby to a great extent, they are a heavily ‘development’ focused team. They have to be, they live on the smell of an oily rag.

266 Go to comments

JW 39 minutes ago

Two All Blacks praised as 'potential superstars' in France whitewash

Haven’t seen the French scrum go so far backwards until this last test…

40 Go to comments

JW 40 minutes ago

Two All Blacks praised as 'potential superstars' in France whitewash

I can go along with that be we all know to take domestic footy with a grain of salt comparing to internationals. We have just had an example of this from France with all their form guys getting selected over hardened international players and losing badly.

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JW 43 minutes ago

All Blacks squeeze past France to sweep July series in Hamilton

Well he is, hes saying what happens with these ‘halves’ doesn’t effect ‘moments’, which is absurd.

Yes the All Blacks have been poor in the second half because they’ve lost ‘moments’. Those ‘moments’ happen in certain conditions that occur in the second half LOL!

118 Go to comments

Jfp123 48 minutes ago

Why New Zealand learned more from their July series than France

It will be great if Jalibert improves in defence, but unless and until he improves substantially, I think he should be out of the running for the national team. If you look at the French A side, attack is not usually so much of a problem - they scored 200 points in the last 6 nations without MJ on the pitch. Defence however can be an issue, Penaud isn’t the greatest in that area for a start. So a 10 who is solid in defence is badly needed. And given his poor defence record, MJ would be bound to be targeted by shrewd coaches like Rassi and Razor, so he needs to be able to withstand that.

Also, given sufficient improvement in defence, there are still factors which tell against MJ. I think the 7/1 bench has been a very successful experiment, and for that you need flexible backs who can play in more than one position in case of injury. Then there’s how well the 10 plays with France’s best 9, Dupont. And even if you think MJ is better when there’s no Dupont or 7/1 split, stability in a test team is important, so it’s better not to go chopping and changing the 10 needlessly. There’s also the question of temperament - MJ doesn’t shine at his brightest when it really matters, eg WC quarters and Top14 finals, and look at his test record over the past 2 years.

I see Ntamack as by far the best option at 10. Rugby is a team game, and apart from his excellent defence, there’s his partnership with Dupont, his versatility, and all the other skills that go to making a great team player and a great 10. He’s excellent under the high ball, an area where France tend to have a weakness, and has fine strategic and team management skills, great handling skills and so on.

While having star quality is important, it’s not the be all and end all, as illustrated by UBB this season. Imo, though undoubtedly very good, they underperformed. With best wings, best 9, as Dupont barely played in the Top14, with Jalibert and leading centres and 15, plus a strengthened forward pack, they couldn’t match ST in points scored, despite the latter’s huge injury list which left some positions seriously weakened, at least on paper.

For next season, I hope ST are back to their scintillating best with injuries healed, that LBB is back to rude health for UBB, that the exciting promise of La Rochelle’s and Toulon’s new recruits bears fruit, Bayonne continue to defy their budget and we have a cracking, highly competitive Top14 and Les Bleus triumphant in the autumn internationals and six nations!

266 Go to comments

JW 52 minutes ago

Why New Zealand learned more from their July series than France

As pointed out by Nick and the French posters their players can’t cope with both (even sharing the July window like they have been), players are still too exhausted even through the season. And if the french government is going to crackdown even further on them they’re simply going to have/want to change for their own good.