Players in Australia's National Rugby League will be eligible for payouts of up to Aus$1.0 million dollars (US$940,000) if they suffer career-ending injuries under a new insurance scheme, the NRL said Thursday.
The NRL, its 16 clubs and the Rugby League Players' Association have been working together on the interim policy and the proposal is before the association's members for review and approval.
The proposed scheme "tops up" the existing insurance arrangements to double the payout for total and permanent disability injuries from Aus$500,000 to Aus$1.0 million.
The development comes after Newcastle Knights forward Alex McKinnon suffered a severe spinal injury in a tackle in a club game in March, leaving him in a wheelchair.
The NRL said the payout will apply to the most serious injuries including paraplegia, quadriplegia, loss of sight and the loss of the use of a limb.
The arrangements will cover the top 25 contracted NRL players in each club.
NRL chief executive Dave Smith said the proposed arrangements were significant.
"Everyone in the game has been working together for some months to develop an insurance scheme which looks after the welfare of our players," he said in a statement.
"Obviously players will always be able to take their own insurance to protect their income in the event of a serious injury.
"But it is also important that the game has its own scheme and the players, clubs and NRL are working towards that."
The interim policy would operate through to March 2015 ahead of new insurance arrangements to be developed for the whole of the game, the NRL said.
Source: AFP
