New rugby union CBA introduces pay parity for Australia women's team

Rugby Australia have struck a new collective bargaining agreement that will see the women's rugby union team paid for Test matches for the first time, and women’s and men’s sevens and Super Rugby starters receive the same base pay.

An entry level salary of $44,500 has been mandated across these formats, while the agreement will last until the expiry of the current broadcast deal in 2020.

Top-level salaries will still be disparate between men’s XVs and others, but the move is a significant improvement for the women’s game. Women will also have a new pregnancy policy built into the agreement, which lasts until the expiry of the 2020 broadcast deal.

The deal follows Raelene Castle’s December appointment as chief executive of RA, where she acknowledged that the “female market is really hot” and that rugby union was in a “race ... to be a sport of choice” for women. 

Sevens co-captain Shannon Parry heralded the pregnancy policy as a significant breakthrough for women playing rugby union.

“We’re in such a different sport to most female athletes in terms of the physicality of the game, but to make sure you’re not prevented from wanting to have children and a family is vital,” she said.

“To have the security of being able to return to your contract gives our squad a sense that the door will always be open, and as we’ve seen with (gold medal winner and mother of two) Nicole Beck, there is absolutely no reason why you can’t come back and compete at the highest level after having children.”

Additionally, the Wallaroos, the women’s XVs side, has been included in the deal for the first time, meaning they will also be paid for the first time. They will receive match payments for any Test they play.

Previously, they have been considered amateur, and did not receive match payments.