The Rugby League Players Association met with its cricketing and Australian rules counterparts to "gain an insight into how those unions won their own battles for a guaranteed share of revenue." The Australian Football League and Cricket Australia "recently ended their pay wars," leaving rugby league as the remaining sport yet to finalize a collective bargaining agreement. RLPA CEO Ian Prendergast compared notes with AFL Players' Association CEO Paul Marsh and Australian Cricketers' Association CEO Alistair Nicholson during an Australian Athletes Alliance meeting during the week (SYDNEY MORNING HERALD, 8/8).
Activision Blizzard's Overwatch League (OWL) announced the "first details of player salaries and benefits." Minimum salaries for players are fixed at $50,000 per year and "health insurance and retirement savings plans must be provided also." At least 50% of team performance bonuses "will also be paid directly to players." Total available bonuses in the first season will amount to $3.5M, which means players on a team of six that wins every bonus would make $750,000 each per year (SOUTH CHINA MORNING POST, 8/8).
