Overview

Player Management

Howes was appointed as one of 10 Licensed Agents by The Rugby Football League in June 2003 after passing an examination set by the Joint Licensing Panel and securing a £10,000 professional indemnity bond.

In March 2004, Howes passed the stringent Licensed Players Agents Examination, set by FIFA and the Football Association. Howes subsequently signed the Code of Conduct, an ethical code of practice required of all agents under the FIFA Players Agent Regulations, and put in place regulatory professional indemnity insurance.

October 2004 saw Howes Etc form a partnership agreement with London-based athletes1, a worldwide representation company, to manage their stable of Rugby League players.

Howes ETC draws on two main areas of hands-on experience

Personal management of players at International level during a 19-year career at Rugby League Headquarters, in particular the appointment as Manager of Great Britain on the 1988 Tour to Australia, New Zealand and Papua New Guinea, and Manager of England in the World Cup 2000
Executive management of two of Britain’s leading rugby clubs, St. Helens (1995-98) and Leeds Rugby Ltd (1998 to 2002)

The four-year role as Managing Director of Leeds Rugby Ltd was history-making as it involved control of both codes of rugby as the Company boasted of being “The World’s First Rugby Partnership”, promoting Rugby League through the Leeds Rhinos and Rugby Union via the Leeds Tykes.

The dual-purpose organisation realised its dream goal in 2001 with both teams competing in their respective elite 12-club leagues, the Rhinos in the Tetley’s Super League and the Tykes being promoted into the Zurich Premiership.

During that four years at Headingley, Howes served on the Boards of both Super League Europe and Premier Rugby, therefore gaining valuable contacts at the highest level in both codes.

Objectives of Howes ETC in the field of player management

To guide elite players through the labyrinth of professional rugby to maximise both playing potential and earning capacity
To concentrate on all aspects of career development off the field, including media, marketing and commercial potential
To provide an expert knowledge of the rules and regulations pertaining to professional rugby
To exploit personal contacts at central and club level for the ultimate benefit of the player
To allow the player to concentrate on his rugby development by offering a variety of professional partnerships in specialist areas such as law and accountancy at favourable rates
To act as a mentor and confidante to complement the roles of coaches, fellow players and parents/guardians
To operate all these services on a personal basis through Managing Director, David Howes