The Rugby Players Association (RPA) is delighted to announce Nic Dolly of Leicester Tigers as the worthy recipient of this season’s third RPA Vodafone Business Gain Line Award.

The RPA Vodafone Business Gain Line Award was created to support current and former players of the game in their off the field business ventures.

Dolly set up his online fitness business “Build U Fitness” following the loss of his playing contract back in 2020 due to the pandemic. This online coaching platform gave him the opportunity to not only continue to earn an income, but also to maintain his fitness whilst searching for a new contract. Dolly joined Leicester Tigers part way through the 2020/21 season and has been running this business on the side, releasing numerous e-books and guides to help his followers and clients gain the best they can through his fitness sessions.

On winning the award, Dolly said: “I am really enjoying doing my part outside of playing rugby, being able to help people is super rewarding and to be recognised for that by Vodafone Business and the RPA definitely solidifies what I’m doing is making a difference.”

Dolly’s RPA Player Development Manager, Jamie Bethell, said: “Nic is the embodiment of ‘when life gives you lemons, make lemonade’. When the pandemic hit in 2020, Nic found himself without a playing contract or any other means of income. Starting with nothing, Nic used his passion for fitness and his knowledge gained through Personal Training qualifications to build an online fitness business that has now helped well over 200 people to improve their health, wellbeing, and athletic performance.

What is truly impressive, is how Nic did all of this alongside working so hard on his rugby, that he earned another contract at a Premiership Rugby club, won the league with Leicester Tigers and earned his first England cap. Nic leads by example on and off the pitch and I hope players coming through see what can be achieved alongside a top-level playing career. He has big ambitions both in and out of rugby, so watch this space!”

Andrew Stevens, Business Commercial Director, Vodafone said: "We're thrilled to hear that Nic has been awarded the latest RPA Vodafone Business Gain Line Award. It’s always inspiring to hear how players are utilising time off the pitch to expand and develop their business endeavours. We're really excited to see Nic's fitness and coaching business grow from strength to strength and wish him all the best for the future."

For more information about the Gain Line programme, please visit the RPA website: https://www.therpa.co.uk.

-ENDS-

Penny Maltby-Payne - RPA Head of Communications pmaltbypayne@theRPA.co.uk

READ OUR INTERVIEW BACK FROM JANAUARY 2023 HERE...

About The RPA

The Rugby Players Association is the representative body and collective voice of professional rugby players in England. We represent more than 800 male and female current rugby players, as well as more than 400 former players.

It is our mission to support, promote and protect the interests of our members, from the moment they sign their first professional contracts, throughout their playing careers, and beyond as they embark on the next phase of their lives.

Our members enjoy a wide range of benefits, including: independent representation; legal advice; personal and professional development; playing insurance; education; confidential counselling; transition support; and much more. Members can also access the support of our official charity, Restart, in the event of serious illness, injury or hardship.

The RPA has also acted as the exclusive commercial representative of the England Men’s and Women’s Team and performs the following duties on behalf of Team England: Negotiation of the Elite Players Squad Contract, England match fees, England team win bonuses and Image Rights payments with the RFU.

About Vodafone UK

Vodafone UK is a technology communications company that connects people, businesses and devices to help our customers benefit from digital innovation. Our services span mobile, fixed-line connections, home and office broadband, and the Internet of Things (IoT).

We have a strong track record as a tech pioneer, making the UK’s first mobile phone call, sending the first text message, and making the UK’s first live holographic call using 5G in 2018. We were also the first to start carrying live 5G traffic from a site in Salford, Greater Manchester. As of June 2021, we have 5G in 364 locations across Europe – 124 in the UK and 240 across Germany, Spain, Italy and Ireland. Our 4G network coverage currently reaches over 99% of the UK population.

Today, Vodafone serves more than 18 million mobile and fixed-line customers in the UK. To help deliver Gigabit UK, our full-fibre broadband roll-out programme now covers 15 UK towns and cities through partnerships with CityFibre and Openreach.

Sustainability is also at the heart of what we do: as of 1 July 2021, 100% of the grid electricity we use in the UK is certified to be from renewable sources.

For more information about Vodafone UK please visit: www.vodafone.co.uk