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After something like a year of background work, Monday saw the launch of the United States Rugby Players Association (USRPA).

The premise is simple: with more and more money coming into the game, as well as more and more pressure on player welfare, having a body to look out for the interests and protection of players makes sense.

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“It is important for the success of the game in the United States that the elite players have a collective voice,” said American star Blaine Scully, one of the main drivers of the project, in a statement released Monday. “The relationship between USA Rugby and the USRPA is fundamentally founded on a strong sense of partnership and shared purpose. Both parties are committed to dialogue and collaboration which will allow the players to have input in key issues, but also take ownership in the development of the game.”

The USRPA will represent the interests of players on both the men’s and women’s national rugby squads.