Welsh rugby bosses tell players they are paying salaries rugby cannot afford

16 February 2023 , 09:11

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Ken Owens scores for Wales in last weekend's heavy defeat by Scotland (Image: PA)

Welsh rugby boss Nigel Walker met with senior members of Warren Gatland's squad yesterday to try to stave off the threat of Six Nations strike action.

He brought with him the stark message that the sport in Wales can simply not afford the wages currently being paid.

“The cold facts are that the WRU and clubs have been paying salaries that their businesses cannot afford,” Malcolm Wall, chair of the WRU’s Professional Game Board, said.

Gatland’s squad have talked openly about how their mental health has been affected in the bitter war between the WRU and the four regions over a future funding programme. Last night the players are understood to have walked out of a sponsor event early in a show of disaffection.

Against the backdrop of uncertainty industrial action is threatened - which could disrupt the Wales-England clash on Saturday week.

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Bradley Davies, who has 66 caps, said: “I wouldn’t want to strike but if that was the only thing that had to be done, then I guess I’d have to.

"How would you feel if you weren't guaranteed a contract? And if you were, it’s 100 per cent guaranteed you will be paid less than you were before.

Welsh Rugby Union acting chief executive Nigel Walker (Jacob King/PA Wire)

“None of the boys want to strike. Boys want Welsh rugby to get better again and for all this to stop so we can move forward and compete with other teams.

“But there are boys playing international and regional rugby who don’t know if they’ve got a job in four months’ time. It’s difficult.”

Interim chief executive Walker committed to “maintain open dialogue to resolve individual concerns”, while Wall pledged that all current contracts will be honoured.

Bradley Davies: "There are boys playing international and regional rugby who don’t know if they’ve got a job in four months’ time. It’s difficult” (Getty Images)

He added: “The average salary of a Welsh professional rugby player under the new framework will be around £100k-per-year.

“We are confident that our salary packages are in line with the UK market. There is no room for manoeuvre when it comes to the overall budget available for player contracts.”

Alex Spink