IRUPA To Launch Members Helpline

IRUPA will launch a Members Helpline to provide confidential and independent help to current and past players and their families. The service comes on the back of a survey that analysed all aspects of the game and the impact rugby has on players’ lives off the field.

In October 2014 IRUPA (Irish Rugby Union Players’ Association) carried out the wide ranging survey across all of its members who are currently playing professional rugby in Ireland. The results of the survey highlight the mental and emotional strain playing a professional sport can have on its players.

• 67% of respondents admitted to regularly/always spending time worrying about playing performance
• 74% of players have admitted suffering from excessive lack of sleep due to worrying about playing performance
• 40% of players agreed that has a negative effect on their relationships outside the game

In 2014 a unique international study, conducted by the Division of Exercise Science and Sports Medicine (University of Cape Town) and the Academic Centre for Evidence based Sports Medicine (University of Amsterdam), focused on emotional health issues amongst retired professional Rugby Union players from Ireland, France and South Africa.

The preliminary results show a wide variety of emotional factors that had adversely affected them since retiring, these symptoms range from distress to depression, sleep disturbance, alcohol abuse, smoking and poor eating habits. Unhealthy nutritional behaviour was the most prevalent symptom reported by Irish players (60.2%), followed by anxiety (34.2%), adverse alcohol behaviour (30.1%) and sleeping disturbance (25.3%).

In response to both of these surveys findings IRUPA, in partnership with EAP Consultants, will launch a 24 hour Member Helpline from July 1^st 2015.

The Helpline will be available to all past and current players, from academy level to senior players, along with their families. This service will help these individuals deal with mental and emotional issues and stresses. The IRUPA Members’ Helpline will provide confidential and independent support across a wide range of issues including anxiety, coping with injury, career transition, financial concerns, bereavement and relationship issues. The timing of the launch has been chosen to coincide with the start of the new rugby season.

Always mindful of the role families play in supporting a player, IRUPA will also make the Helpline available to family members who may be worried about their own wellbeing or that of their rugby playing relative. Players are often encouraged to look out for their teammates and the Helpline will act as a support to these players who are concerned for the wellbeing of a teammate.

IRUPA’s Operational Manager and Head of Legal Affairs Simon Keogh, himself a retired professional rugby player commented, “When a player steps away from professional rugby whether it enforced or through his own decision there can be a loss of identity. Players are faced with real mental challenges as they try to find a profession off the pitch. The emotional pressures on these retired professional rugby players need to be fully understood if we are to address them, that is why we were keen to involve our Clubhouse members in the IRUPA Player Development Programme.”

The IRUPA Member Helpline will be available to all players – academy, senior, past and women’s 7s – as well as their immediate family.