16 February 2023 , 16:06
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Wales boss Warren Gatland says he would not back his players should they decide to strike instead of taking to the field for the crunch Six Nations clash against England.
Unprecedented strike action was branded a "very real" possibility by captain Alun Wyn Jones as beleaguered Wales prepare to host their biggest rivals in Cardiff next Saturday.
Angry players are considering the boycott over an ongoing contract dispute, that has emerged as the latest crisis to hit Welsh rugby. The stricken professional game's contract freeze is causing chaos with players fearful amid increasing uncertainty over their immediate futures.
A fresh playing budget agreement is still yet to be confirmed for the four pro regions of Ospreys, Cardiff, Dragons and Scarlets, which means players are unable to sign new contracts with recruitment for next season still on hold.
And Gatland's squad sat down with interim Welsh Rugby Union chief executive Nigel Walker at an emergency meeting on Wednesday to demand a resolution to the contract freeze within the next week.
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But while the New Zealander supports his players voicing their angst, he would not back a strike ahead of their third Six Nations game against Steve Borthwick's England on February 25.
Asked if he would support a strike, Gatland said: “No. I completely support the stance they’re taking in wanting to get resolution, but there’s a lot more things at stake in terms of ensuring that fixture does take place.
Wales players have considered strike action for the Six Nations clash against England (©INPHO/Ben Brady)"But I’m in support of the players and the things they’re trying to do, so my role is just to try and prepare the team for next week." He added: "As far as I'm concerned, I'm just preparing for the game and I'm confident that the game will go ahead."
Wales skipper Jones, meanwhile, has confirmed strike action is indeed on the table as a last resort, with some exasperated stars ready to make the ultimate statement of intent in response to the contract freeze if a resolution is not found.
"I suppose it is. It's hard to deny, but it's the very last option," he said when asked whether going on strike was a possibility. "There are people who are really impassioned. Ultimately, if you treat people badly for long enough, you get to where we find ourselves.
"We realise what we do and how fortunate we are to do it, but if this was any other line of work or any other industry for this period of time with this amount of uncertainty, you'd get the same reaction.
"We're very respectful to society as a whole. But it comes to a point now where the game in Wales has to make a decision on which way it wants to go."