dtaai-maai wrote: ↑Fri Feb 17, 2023 5:24 am
Nah, I don't believe it. This game is too important to everyone involved.
**Friendly Warning** - I am now climbing upon my soapbox
Rugby in Wales is in it's Death Throes, the WRU are and have been an absolute disgrace - shafting the players that are the heart of Welsh rugby, absolutely clueless as to what is required and how their supposed professional organisation should operate..... Oh and let's not forget guilty of Misogyny, homophobia and racism - they are ultimately an abject failure. We know they are a back-stabbing, Judas-esque organisation, but this from a former Wales Captain, Wales Coach
(Technical Advisor) and the first player to sign a
"Central Contract" with the WRU (so he'll know a thing or two on the subject) - Sam Warburton: -
"My feeling is that the WRU almost want to drive the regions into administration, so they can take them over (they already own Dragons). I know for certain that last month, if it hadn’t been for the generosity of the long-term benefactor Peter Thomas, in helping pay players and staff, Cardiff would have followed Wasps and Worcester Warriors into administration. I’m also pretty sure that at least one of the other regions has been in the same boat and has been similarly saved in the short term.
"The regions are trying to live off money from an old agreement with the WRU because the money from the new agreement hasn’t come through, even though they are supposed to be in year one of it. They simply can’t cope. The hope is that the new chairman and interim chief executive, Ieuan Evans and Nigel Walker, change the WRU’s stance quickly and try to help the regions, but if they don’t, then I fear that we could see all the regions fold and have to be taken over by the WRU."
The atmosphere now is completely toxic - Threats of "Strike Action", walk-outs from VIP Donor events/Press Conferences, refusal to interact or allow filming by the likes of "Netflix" (with whom the WRU have agreed a lucrative contract)- it might not sound much, or even amusing to some.... But these actions will cause the WRU problems, and potentially hurt them financially...... How poetic!
The players themselves are not asking for more money (as normally those striking do), they simply want a commitment for their futures (an end to contractual issues), a voice in how things are run, player welfare (how many times a season do they have to put their bodies on the line)..... This is their job, their income, their and their families' futures
The players have previously agreed to a 20% cut in salary due to the effects of Covid on the sport, the "new" contracts offered by the WRU and Regions will have further pay cuts (reputedly a further 20%), yet none of the staff or coaches of the WRU or Regions will be asked (forced) to do the same - the WRU had a nice cash injection from CVC (£50 Million), also sponsorship deals etc. and of course income from the Principality Stadium..... It seems these "funds" didn't benefit the players though. The WRU give no guarantees to the players - with a freeze on contract renewals and new contracts/contract extensions - and the 60 Cap Rule in place, there are now some 70+ Regional and International players that will be out of contract within the next few months and far from sure what their futures hold. This is the thanks they get for risking personal injury, possibly an early end to careers in an admittedly hard game - just to line the pockets of others...... They are being shown zero respect. How are they expected to go into matches Regional or International with the correct mindset/attitude to compete? The results and performances of the recent Welsh matches are self explanatory really and I'm embarrassed to say I didn't consider the above in depth before berating players in a manly fashion via my keyboard
Though I suspect I wasn't alone. And before I get the responses stating I'm using this as an excuse for our losses in the Six Nations so far, no, of course it's not the full story but perhaps without this Bullshit situation, we may just have put up a slightly better showing!!!
What next? It's been reported that the Welsh players have set a deadline of next Wednesday, Feb 22nd (3 days before the scheduled match with England) to sort this mess out. There are 3 demands: -
"Scrap the 60-cap rule, remove the fixed-variable element from contracts (which accounts for 20% of salaries) and give players a seat at Professional Rugby Board meetings.
Welsh players will meet with WRPA representatives in the next week to decide on next steps, with potential strike action still one option".
Sounds perfectly reasonable to me!! Let's see what happens in the coming days.... Hopefully common sense and decency will prevail, but that's a big ask of the WRU.
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