Australia's rugby players' union has appointed an experienced lawyer and administrator its new chief executive in the lead up to one of the most important broadcast negotiations in recent history.

It us understood Prataal Raj beat respected former Wallaby Justin Harrison to claim the top job at the Rugby Union Players' Association after former CEO Ross Xenos quit in June and took a commercial role with the Melbourne Rebels.

Respected former Wallaby Justin Harrison, centre, is believed to have reached the final stages of the selection process to lead the Rugby Union Players' Association. Credit:Robert Peet

Raj is a corporate lawyer with a decade of experience across the legal, sports and technology industries, including five years with the Australian Grand Prix Corporation and two years as a lawyer with the International Cricket Council. He is currently chief operating officer at financial services tech firm GiVV Technologies and has also worked at global sports management company IMG.

The choice is a clear indication of RUPA's intentions. Rugby Australia are in advanced negotiations with their SANZAAR partners New Zealand, South Africa and Argentina on the future of Super Rugby and the Rugby Championship, with a new broadcast deal to be nutted out over the next 12 months before the current one ends in 2020.