Australian rugby players will return on 70 per cent of their original wage when Super Rugby AU kicks off on Friday after an agreement was reached on Wednesday night.
Players from the Queensland Reds, NSW Waratahs, Melbourne Rebels and ACT Brumbies had been subjected to an average 60 per cent cut after Super Rugby was put on hold almost four months ago.
Negotiations over the last week have landed on a 30 per cent reduction of regular wage, match payments and bonuses to ensure the tournament goes ahead as planned.
It’s a win for players after their union rejected an initial 40 per cent sacrifice and puts them in line with senior Rugby Australia staff and new Australian coach Dave Rennie, who are all operating on 70 per cent of their original wage.
Talk of a competition boycott emerged when the 40 per cent figure was first floated, however was quickly shot down by Rebels boss Baden Stephenson and the threat never reached boardroom level.
The revised agreement will remain for the next three months until the domestic competition’s September finals series is complete, at which point the structure will be renegotiated ahead of any Tests yet to be locked in.
“Australians all around the country are currently facing an incredibly difficult economic environment and rugby is certainly no different,” Rugby Australia chief executive Rob Clarke said.
“The professional players have acknowledged the important role they play in ensuring the future health of rugby in Australia and I thank them for their cooperation throughout this negotiation, to ensure the competition starts this coming Friday night.”
The Reds host the Waratahs on Friday in Brisbane before the Rebels play the Brumbies on Saturday.
Recalled to the competition after being axed from Super Rugby in 2017, Western Force are exempt from Rugby Australia’s pay agreement.
Ex force fan
Guest
That is clearly not his intention as his focus is to use GRR to deliver locally based players. As the competition establish itself salaries will grow and then a cap can get in the way as you need to pay more to retain locally based players in a global market. His strategy has been pretty clear from the beginning... it is about a competition that allow young WA based players to follow a professional rugby career without having to relocate.
Ex force fan
Guest
Which promise did Twiggy not delivered on so far? What makes you think he is bluffing on GRR? It is only a couple of tens of millions of dollars for him...
Ex force fan
Guest
That’s why I think we should not close the door on GRR. If RA wants to operate with a salary cap in a competitive global industry that is their choice.
Ex force fan
Guest
It is a No brainer but No Brainers are not RA speciality. I hope that the Force will continue to show preference to players that makes a long term commitment to the WA Rugby community and home grown talent. Leave the check book in the drawer and invest in good coaches and young players that wants to make Perth their home. That is the only way to become a powerhouse.
Walter Black
Guest
"Australian rugby players will return on 70 per cent of their original wage when Super Rugby AU kicks off on Friday after an agreement was reached on Wednesday night" While this sounds good, how many of the better players will be reviewing League / Overseas options as an alternative ? People will stand this for a while but go on too long and our players will be reduced to mediocrity. Take someone like Vunivalu currently playing with the Melbourne Storm but with a contract to join the Reds next year. Does the 70% cut make him re-evaluate ?
Rugby4ever
Roar Rookie
They should consider themselves lucky to even have a salary.
Oblonsky‘s Other Pun
Roar Guru
In that case it would be more useful if the media simply reported that RA has reached a deal that reduced its player salaries by 30% overall. Rather than saying players have accepted a 30% pay cut.
Mick Gold Coast QLD
Roar Guru
Test
Train Without A Station
Roar Guru
Well considering Twiggy hasn’t thrown huge money around for players yet, I’d not be worrying about that scenario at this stage.
MrF
Guest
I mean all we can go on is Tiggys word right? He's been very vocal on supporting GGR long term and I don't think he's done anything to suggest otherwise (for example he's propped up the Force, and other GGR franchises at a loss and still continues to fund development programmes at all levels in WA). You say he doesn't hold anything unique except money, but he who has the gold makes the rules eh? I agree that for the sake of the Force Twiggy probably prefers them to be in SR for the time being, but you can't deny he has a keen interest in the Asian market. I also agree that a salary cap to all aus teams is the best outcome for Aus rugby in terms of fairness and development; I just think it would be foolish of RA to assume the Force will play along just because "its fairer on the other teams", especially if RA isn't footing the bill for the team. All the same, this is all based on conjecture anyways, I'm just interested to see how the rugby public embraces this comp and how the dynamic between Australia's teams shift now that a cashed up RugbyWA is involved.
Don
Roar Rookie
I don’t really think Twiggy holds anything unique other than his cash and has no real intention of funding GRR as a long term project. Says he does. Ultimately you can’t have one side able to spend whatever they like on player salaries and the competing teams only allowed to pay a limited amount when they are recruiting from the same player pool. And realistically, Twiggy would be happy to see the Force back in the RA tent. He can still say he saved them. The real test will be seeing if he hangs around as a sponsor for long if the Force ultimately come back under RA terms. When the Force were on the bones of their arse and couldn’t find a sponsor Twiggy wasn’t very concerned about it...
numpty
Roar Rookie
Yeah they slip a "on average*" little disclaimer in their most times to reflect that some players are taking a bigger hit.
MrF
Guest
you may be right, but considering that RA are struggling financially, you'll probably find the Force holding all the cards. If RA can field a strong Aussie super team without having to pay a dime for it, why would they impose rules on that team which risks that team pulling out? Seems like the folks in WA were more than content supporting GRR, and Twiggy has already stated that the current agreement with RA is short term and tenuous at best. If RA were to put conditions on the Force, such as a salary cap, they would have to allow them more power at board level too, to keep them, and Twiggys sweet cash, involved at a national level. Just my opinion though.
Don
Roar Rookie
I’m just guessing, but I expect that if the Force were to remain in whatever version of SR exists beyond this year, they will have to agree to operate within the same salary cap as the other Australian sides.
Train Without A Station
Roar Guru
It would include Job Keeper. I'm pretty sure it's not a blanket 30% though. Players like Hooper will be taking more of a haircut, will minimum wage players will be taking almost none. At least that's what the previous agreement was.
GoldenEye
Roar Rookie
Does the 70% include JobKeeper or is it plus JobKeeper? Obviously not an issue for someone on say, Hooper's contract but it would make a difference for the players on the minimum.
MrF
Guest
Should the Force be included in future iterations of Super Rugby AU (or indeed a joint comp with NZ) they are bound to become the powerhouse of Aussie Rugby. Twiggy just committed another 5 mil to future dev. Programs in WA and they are not bound by RA salary caps. If you're a professional player coming off contract this year or next, and offered a big money contact from WA, why wouldn't you take it? Especially with all the global uncertainty. Interesting times ahead.
Beedy Eyes
Guest
But Hooper was still on 500k for doing nothing .What a joke he is.