ARE YOUR PLAYERS PAID???
This document sets out some key principles for Clubs and Players to be aware of when dealing
with player registration matters.
1.
If a club’s players are receiving (directly or indirectly) any ‘Material Benefit’ for
playing rugby, the club and player MUST declare that Player as a ‘Contracted Player’
on the RFU Adult Player Registration Form, and NOT an Amateur Player. This
includes any third party (such as a sponsor) providing any Material Benefit to the
Player on behalf of the Club. For more information on player registration and model
contracts, please see: www.englandrugby.com/playerregistration
2. ‘Material Benefit’ is defined in RFU Regulation 1 as:
money, consideration, gifts or any other benefits whatsoever contracted, promised
or given to a person or at his direction, but does not include reimbursement of
proper expenses incurred for reasonable travel, accommodation, subsistence or
other expenses incurred in relation to the Game and as particularised in RFU
Regulation 7.3.
Examples of what is classed as a Material Benefit are: payment either directly or
indirectly, by or on behalf of the club, which is conditional on playing for the club, free
accommodation of any kind, air fare to and from UK, complimentary car etc.
3. All Players receiving a Material Benefit for playing rugby MUST have a playing
contract with the club (RFU Regulation 7.2) and the Player MUST be declared as
‘Contracted Player’ and NOT be declared as an ‘Amateur Player’. Misrepresenting the
status of the player will render the player ineligible from the point of registration and
the Player and the Club may be subject to sanction..
4. If using an Agent, the Club and Player MUST use a RFU Registered Agent and
comply with RFU Regulation 8. The Agent MUST sign the Player’s Club contract or
the separate Agent Declaration Form (RFU Regulation 8.4.4) which must be
submitted upon registration.
Please see following link for further information:
www.englandrugby.com/playerregistration
5.
If a Player does not have a British passport, the Club and Player MUST check the
immigration status of the Player and ensure that the provision of any Material Benefit
to that Player is lawful under immigration law requirements. Further information
regarding
Visa
requirements
can
be
found
at:
www.englandrugby.com/playerregistration
6. Players holding a visitor only Visa (or any other Visa that prohibits payment for rugby
or work, such as a Youth Mobility Visa) MUST NOT be paid as this will be in breach
of the Visa conditions for entry in the UK and therefore illegal. See following link for
penalties for employing illegal workers: www.gov.uk/penalties-for-employing-illegalworkers
7.
Also note that if a club is a CASC, there are certain prohibitions on paying players and
failure to adhere to these prohibitions could impact the CASC status of the club. For
more information on CASCs, please see www.englandrugby.com/governance/legaland-admin/community-amateur-sports-clubs/
8. All players coming from any other Union MUST obtain a clearance from their
previous Union in order to be eligible to play in England.
9. All Clubs MUST comply with relevant employment law (such as sick pay, holiday pay,
discrimination requirements etc.) and tax legislation (such as PAYE, pension autoenrolment, national insurance contributions, national minimum wage legislation etc).
For more information on this please see www.englandrugby.com/governance/clubsupport/financial-management/
10. All Players MUST declare any income for tax purposes and comply with all tax
legislation.
Failure to comply with the above may constitute a breach of RFU Regulations
and/or be unlawful, which may result in the Club and/or Players being subject to
legal and/or regulatory/disciplinary proceedings.