Player Management

 

Background

Most tri line sports (tls) clients are exclusively managed by us. However due to partnerships with agencies based abroad and other players for whom we only source commercial contracts some are managed on a non exclusive arrangement. To avoid confusion in relation to who is on which arrangement we do not list current clients. However, no playing contract work is undertaken without an exclusive mandate to do so.

Tls is one of the few genuinely dual code agencies, representing equal numbers of players in union and league. Providing a cross code agency service offers increased options to professional players as some players do elect to switch during their careers. Prior to 1996, for primarily financial reasons, the movement was usually from union to league, but in the open professional era players can elect to play the game which most suits them. Tls has all the right contacts to facilitate such movement for players in all rugby playing territories.

 

Services to players

Although the opportunities are different for players of the two codes, our market knowledge is very strong in both and services offered by tls are equally applicable.

 

Union

Tls can assist union players wishing to get the right full time contract in the UK, France, Italy and/or Japan. Other prominent professional rugby playing nations are South Africa, New Zealand and Australia, although as these are Super 14 nations most opportunities for overseas players are part–time.

 

League

The two major full time competitions are the European Super League and Australian NRL. Due to the strength in depth of the NRL competition and the pound to dollar exchange rate players coming from the NRL to England is much more common than the reverse. Part time opportunities exist in New Zealand, France, Australia and the US.

 

Services Provided

Tls works with a limited number of players from each code who are off contract in any one year. This ensures that the right level of service can be provided. Tls undertakes the UK search and contract negotiations in–house and works with key partners to ensure the best possible deals are secured abroad. Clients of tls can have a free consultation with one of tls' appointed professional partners. These are:

i)   Legal and image rights – SK Sports and Entertainment – www.sk-se.com
ii)  Tax planning and other related services – Tony Lymn – www.ashgates.co.uk
iii)  Financial Planning – Sean Gilks – Vista Financial Management – 01943 871788

 

The priority income for a player is his playing contract. However, the following endorsement deals have also been brokered for clients: newspaper columns, book, magazine, supplement, apparel, merchandise, modelling and footwear contracts. We are continually nurturing relationships with relevant individuals and organisations, thus enabling tls to assist a client with the full spectrum of management services.