Australian Rugby / RA

[I like to watch]

Lucky,you did it on the cricket field.
The existence of injured playing funds, is testament to the comprehensive nature of insurance policies in Rugby.

 

[Train Without a Station]

ILTW I agree they aren't worth a pinch of shit. But once again this isn't rugby specific. Depending on the individual teams (e.g. Melbourne Uni Rugby Club actually has one of the best insurance packages in Aus grass roots sport) they all are virtually useless.

 

[Inside Shoulder]

The difference was the clubs paid per team and could afford not to charge subs for players who played a game or two. Now it's per player.

But you still had to be registered?

 

[Train Without a Station]

Yes

 

[I like to watch]

Yeah,but signing a rego form before you run out to help out a team struggling for numbers is a no brainer.
Having to stump up insurance money before you run out,is a deal breaker.

 

[Inside Shoulder]

Yes

I've heard of some shenanigans "ex post facto" to secure entitlement

 

[Train Without a Station]

I've heard of some shenanigans "ex post facto" to secure entitlement

I've played under the odd false name in my time too.

Obviously not for any clubs my post shows me to be affiliated with!

 

[Braveheart81]

Lucky,you did it on the cricket field.
The existence of injured playing funds, is testament to the comprehensive nature of insurance policies in Rugby.

Heh. The $6k+ I spent in relation to the same injury (it was a dental injury) three years later wasn't covered at all.

My take on sports injury insurance is that there are lots of hoops to jump through and you can be grateful if you get anything back to help cover your costs.

 

[Inside Shoulder]

Heh. The $6k+ I spent in relation to the same injury (it was a dental injury) three years later wasn't covered at all.

My take on sports injury insurance is that there are lots of hoops to jump through and you can be grateful if you get anything back to help cover your costs.

There is a serious injury policy I believe which pays a bit more but the rule "in my day" was get private health insurance

 

[Strewthcobber]

There is a serious injury policy I believe which pays a bit more but the rule "in my day" was get private health insurance

Still applies. In fact for example the ARU explicitly recommend it.

Decent coverage across the board would simply cost way too much

ARU encourages all players and officials to take out their own private health insurance, life insurance and ‘Top Up’ coverage over and above the coverage provided under this plan. Gow-Gates can assist in regard to ‘Top Up’ insurance and other insurance requirements.

 

[Train Without a Station]

Still applies. In fact for example the ARU explicitly recommend it.

Decent coverage across the board would simply cost way too much

It's the type of thing that would make rugby not competitive. Nobody wants to pay the extra for that. They just want to piss and moan when the get caught out.

 

[I like to watch]

Still applies. In fact for example the ARU explicitly recommend it.

Decent coverage across the board would simply cost way too much

True,which makes it even more galling that the ARU have structured the compulsory insurance levy,that everyone accepts has very little practical worth,into a process that will be a barrier to participation.

 

[Chris McCracken]

TWAS is correct about the casual player being able to be registered with a minimal financial commitment. The club already had insurance and had the ability to allow per-game payments or whatever means they thought of. This removes that option.

As far as the insurance, what is covered and how well it is acted upon, I can say I saw four examples of juniors having to use it last year. The insurance covered all quite well. If anything, it was the response from NSWRU/Country that slowed them down.

In all of those cases, it was suspected spinal injuries requiring ambulance and medical clearance. One required repeated specialist follow-up and all were sorted after some paperwork anguish.

 

[Braveheart81]

Knowing how insurance companies operate, I can see a system in which an unregistered player who hasn't paid any dues and wanting to claim on the club's insurance policy being challenged if the dollars involved are significant.

 

[Train Without a Station]

BH. I believe what was happening was the club paid the fees for the team, and players could register without being hounded for their fees initially, the club temporarily floating the cost.

 

[Chris McCracken]

Knowing how insurance companies operate, I can see a system in which an unregistered player who hasn't paid any dues and wanting to claim on the club's insurance policy being challenged if the dollars involved are significant.

Sorry, I'm not sure where the unregistered bit came up. Did I miss something there?

 

[Braveheart81]

BH. I believe what was happening was the club paid the fees for the team, and players could register without being hounded for their fees initially, the club temporarily floating the cost.

Yes, I get that.

My question is whether this has actually been tested after a serious injury has happened to a player who has paid no dues nor officially joined a club. This is where I can see this system unravelling.

It's all well and good until someone asks the insurance company to stump up a large amount of money and they look for ways to avoid having to pay it.

 

[Braveheart81]

Sorry, I'm not sure where the unregistered bit came up. Did I miss something there?

As I've said, I'm not entirely sure how the previous system worked.

I've just tried to suggest a reason why I think the new system might have been implemented. Maybe they received legal advice that there was the potential for an injured player to be grossly underinsured.

 

[Brendan Hume]

As I've said, I'm not entirely sure how the previous system worked.

I've just tried to suggest a reason why I think the new system might have been implemented. Maybe they received legal advice that there was the potential for an injured player to be grossly underinsured.

Injured players are grossly underinsured, but the issue isn't around insurance - insurance coverage remains the same, except it needs to be paid on a per player basis. This will mean a one team club in a regional comp who may have had 40 players registered because of work commitments, general lack of commitment to the sport, etc, would have paid $1960 in 2013 (or $1790 in 2014 plus the $200 ARU levy per team) or around $50 per player. In 2015 the insurance cost for those players will be $75 per player and will need to be paid up front. Insurer will receive an extra $1000 or so for that teams players.

The real issue though is that a further $33 will need to be paid to the ARU and in QLD $65 will need to be paid to the QRU to register. These are new costs associated with playing club rugby in Queensland (believe it is $60.50 for ACT players). ARU and QRU aren't doing anything different to what they did for local clubs except providing a new registration database.

Do you reckon that local club with 40 odd registered players who enjoy a social game of footy will still have 40 odd players next year when they need to cough up $123 more per player just to register and be covered by a lousy sports insurance policy?

 

[Train Without a Station]

Yes, I get that.

My question is whether this has actually been tested after a serious injury has happened to a player who has paid no dues nor officially joined a club. This is where I can see this system unravelling.

It's all well and good until someone asks the insurance company to stump up a large amount of money and they look for ways to avoid having to pay it.

Well they'd have had to signed their registration forms, which would make them official.

I know this is what I have seen happen, especially for players who have come for their first game and may not play again.

As the club had previously signed up on a per team basis, who has and hasn't paid wasn't really relevant, provided the club had paid the teams fees as a whole.