AFL PLAYERS Association second-in-charge Ian Prendergast is leaving the football industry to take over as CEO of the NRL players' union.
AFL.com.au understands Prendergast's appointment as Rugby League Players Association chief executive will be announced at a press conference in Sydney on Tuesday at 11am.
Prendergast served as acting AFLPA boss for five months from April last year when former CEO Matt Finnis left to join St Kilda.
The former Carlton player applied for the full-time CEO position, but former Australian Cricketers Association chief Paul Marsh was ultimately appointed to succeed Finnis.
Prendergast stayed on at the AFLPA as player relations manager when Marsh took over last September, despite being courted by several AFL clubs with tempting management roles.
The qualified lawyer has accepted the RLPA chief executive position and is poised to start what promises to be a challenging role shortly.
The RLPA position has been vacant since David Garnsey resigned as CEO in August following a vote of no-confidence from leading players at all 16 NRL clubs.
Prendergast joined the AFLPA in 2010 after playing 65 games at Carlton from 2001-06 and in the SANFL with South Adelaide in 2007-08.
