The Rugby Club is the virtual clubroom for New Zealand’s professional players, past and present, based in Aotearoa and around the world. Players can reconnect with old teammates, forge new business connections via the network directory, and access a suite of NZRPA services for life beyond the field.

Nikita Hall, NZRPA General Manager – People Development, said when you are playing, the team environment is the place that provides that daily connection to other players, and you’re surrounded by like-minded, competitive people who love what they do.

“We created The Rugby Club, so our members had a way to connect into all the great things the game offers and harnesses the power of community. We’ve brought together a team of experts, who many players will recognise from their time in the game, to share their insights and offer practical advice that’ll benefit players no matter where they’re at in their journey.

“The response from the retired players has been incredible, with many putting their hands up to be mentors for current players and sharing their experiences of how they navigated the transition out of their professional playing careers. The icing on the cake is the network directory, which enables players to not only find a mentor or reconnect with their old teammates, but to also forge new connections in business and life. All of this is available at The Rugby Club.”

Design for The Rugby Club:

As the NZRPA designer, I led the creative direction, brand identity, and UI design for The Rugby Club website and collateral - working with the NZRPA team, designers, web developers, photographers, and videographers.

The result was an engaging, user-friendly platform tailored to the needs of retired players.The website incorporates a variety of key design elements, including an animated loading screen, video graphic overlays, and branded video/document resources.

The key design focuses were - establishing a unique identity for the platform while remaining closely aligned with the NZRPA’s values and brand aesthetic. As well as creating a intuitive user experience, optimised for both mobile and desktop platforms to ensure ease of use and accessibility across all devices.