‘We are not asking for special treatment’: Wallaroos captain blasts RA during pay dispute

November 14, 2026 — 4:30pm

Rugby Australia’s pay dispute with its players has escalated with Wallaroos captain Siokapesi Palu slamming the governing body for a lack of commitment in negotiations and calling for better protections for injured players.

The Brumbies player has joined Wallabies prop Tom Robertson in criticising RA for undermining the Rugby Union Players’ Association during negotiations. RUPA and RA have been unable to reach an agreement during the pay fight and could still meet in the NSW Supreme Court.

“Rugby Australia has also refused to collectively negotiate the standard playing contract it expects players to sign or even provide RUPA with a copy of the proposed contract, despite repeated requests on behalf of our members,” Palu wrote in a nine-page statement posted on Instagram on Friday evening.

RA chief executive Phil Waugh defended his organisation’s commitment to women’s rugby that includes doubling the number of professional rugby female players in Australia, and suggested RUPA could invest approximately $5 million of funding it has “accumulated” from his organisation to help fund insurance for players.

The Wallaroos will become a full-time program in January with former Scotland head coach Sione Fukofuka taking over the team ahead of a home World Cup two years later.

Palu said the players “are not asking for special treatment; we are asking for professional standards”.

“I want the next generation of Wallaroos to focus on being the best rugby players they can be, without having to fight for basic protections,” she said.

RA introduced a pregnancy policy in 2018 for their full-time sevens program, becoming one of the first unions in the world to introduce it.

The policy supported players to keep training in a supportive environment, continue office-based employment and, after returning to play, RA funded a partner/carer to travel to tournaments.

In 2023, RA announced contracted Wallaroos players would receive their full contract amount for the year while on maternity leave.

Next year when the Wallaroos program turns professional, it is planned that players will move onto the same policy as their sevens counterparts. RUPA believe the current pregnancy policy available needs to be reviewed.

Currently, like their male colleagues, Wallaroos and sevens players provide their own health insurance and can face out-of-pocket costs for premiums and surgery, before waiting for reimbursement from Rugby Australia.

In a statement provided to this masthead, Waugh acknowledged the sticking point in negotiations over health insurance for players, but suggested RUPA could help to provide a solution in funding it.

“Insurance is one of a number of matters raised by RUPA during negotiations in addition to demands for substantial increases to RUPA’s own operating costs,” Waugh said.

“Rugby Australia and the Super Rugby Clubs have made clear to RUPA that we are open to working through a solution on insurance.

“One such solution could see RUPA invest a portion of the approximately $5 million it has accumulated from Rugby Australia funding for the benefit of the players it represents.

“It has also been communicated that the game cannot shoulder all the new costs proposed by RUPA in their totality.”

In the last negotiated CBA in 2023, Rugby Australia provided a minimum payment of $4,000 for Super W players in addition to club payments during the season.

Wallaroos currently contracted at the highest tier of payment can earn up to $72,458 per year in RA payments for Wallaroos and Super Rugby Women’s participation combined.

Statement from RA chief executive Phil Waugh

“Rugby Australia and Super Rugby Clubs have put forward a position to RUPA that materially improves outcomes for today’s players while providing a clear pathway for the game’s sustainability and success in the future.

“Among the initiatives put forward by Rugby Australia and the Super Rugby Clubs is the establishment of a full-time professional women’s XV program that more than doubles the number of full-time professional women’s rugby players and provides equitable bonuses for Wallabies and Wallaroos performance in their respective home Rugby World Cups. 

“Insurance is one of a number of matters raised by RUPA during negotiations in addition to demands for substantial increases to RUPA’s own operating costs. “Rugby Australia and the Super Rugby Clubs have made clear to RUPA that we are open to working through a solution on insurance.

“One such solution could see RUPA invest a portion of the approximately $5 million it has accumulated from Rugby Australia funding for the benefit of the players it represents. It has also been communicated that the game cannot shoulder all the new costs proposed by RUPA in their totality.”

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