21 February 2023 , 22:36
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Warren Gatland pulled up a chair, cleared his throat and uttered the words Six Nations bosses had dreaded.
“It’s a genuine threat,” said the coach of a Wales team which today will decide whether to boycott Saturday’s clash with England. “No doubt about that.”
Two months ago Gatland came to power on a tide of goodwill and optimism. Two heavy defeats and an uncivil war later Welsh rugby is at high risk of being dragged under.
“It’s been a bit of a whirlwind and it’s been challenging,” said the New Zealander. “When I came back I wasn’t aware of any of the issues. I wish I’d known a few things that were going on here.”
For all that Gatland claims to be "fairly confident" that all will be alright on the night, Saturday’s £10 million payday for the cash-strapped Welsh Rugby Union is in the balance.
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At the Wales team camp yesterday he abandoned plans to name his line-up to face England just 35 minutes before the scheduled hour.
"The thing is, when you are in discussions, it's not always about win-win for one side. You have to find some compromise" (Mark Runnacles/REX/Shutterstock)He had brought forward his team announcement as much as anything to convey a business-as-usual vibe, yet ended up having to cancel a key training session.
“There have been a lot of meetings going on, and there has been uncertainty of what's happening,” he explained. “Hopefully, things get resolved and the boys turn up on Thursday raring to go for Saturday.
"The thing is, when you are in discussions, it's not always about win-win for one side. You have to find some compromise. I'm confident that with the discussions taking place something will get resolved. It’s been a bit of a challenge but sometimes that galvanises people."
Gatland: "It’s been a bit of a challenge but sometimes that galvanises people"Gatland does not scare easily. This is a man who dropped Brian O’Driscoll from the 2013 Lions’ Test decider against Australia and stood firm as the mother of all Irish backlashes unleashed on him.
By comparison this seems a minor skirmish yet it is one with huge implications both for the tournament and the game as a whole in Wales.
Livelihoods are at stake due to the Union’s delay in agreeing a new funding model for the four regional sides and the players have adopted a militant footing, thus far showing little inclination to back down.
Manu Tuilagi has been handed a four-week ban for foul play (CameraSport via Getty Images)They are demanding the scrapping of the 60-cap rule which allows only players to have hit the milestone to take up more lucrative contracts outside Wales and still wear the red jersey.
They want the removal of the proposed contractual structure in which only 80 per cent of salaries are guaranteed, with 20 per cent held back in performance-related bonuses.
Their final insistence is that the Welsh Rugby Players’ Association are guaranteed a seat at the Professional Rugby Board’s negotiating table.
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The Union are in a corner with public opinion siding with the players. Today will see what chips, if any, they still have to play.
Manu Tuilagi was last night hit with a four-game ban for his red card for foul play at Northampton but could still be available for England's final Six Nations game against Ireland if he attends a World Rugby coaching workshop to improve tackle technique.