High-earning Scotland players asked to take pay cuts as SRU cast doubt on Autumn Tests going ahead
Scotland’s higher-earning players have been asked to take pay cuts amid fears of a £12milion shortfall caused by the potential postponement of the Autumn Tests.
Scottish Rugby Union chief executive Mark Dodson revealed there was “developing uncertainty” over whether Scotland could host Argentina, Japan and New Zealand in November.
Dodson has volunteered to take a 30% wage cut until September at least, with his fellow executive directors offering to accept 25% cuts with all waiving any bonus entitlements.
Dodson also confirmed the SRU would be furloughing employees while consulting with players and other staff on a “salary reduction programme focused on our higher-earning employees”.
A report earlier claimed Dodson had emailed staff stating that anyone earning above £50,000 would be asked to accept wage cuts on a sliding scale between 10 and 25%, with the latter figure relating to players and staff earning more than £200,000. The BBC report said that three-quarters of the SRU’s staff would be furloughed but the organisation did not confirm numbers.
Scotland’s summer tour of South Africa and New Zealand has not yet been postponed but Dodson’s comments on the November games add weight to concerns that sport in general faces a lengthy absence amid the coronavirus pandemic.
In a statement, Dodson said: “Our income streams are being badly affected as match day receipts and other revenues from the likes of PRO14 and EPCR fixtures and activity that might otherwise be taking place at BT Murrayfield are interrupted.
“Like many we hope the professional game season can be completed, but have no guarantee that even a truncated end to any of the competitions will happen.
“As it now stands it would appear very unlikely the annual summer tours to the Southern Hemisphere will take place. This has a further impact on our income.
“There is also developing uncertainty on when Scottish Rugby might be able to put autumn Test tickets on sale, and indeed if these games will go ahead as originally planned. We are due to play Argentina, Japan and New Zealand in November.
“The significant ticket revenue from these games would normally come into Scottish Rugby during the summer. With wider social uncertainty we also don’t want to place a burden on our supporters at this time, given the challenging circumstances everyone finds themselves in.
“If the autumn Tests were to be cancelled, then we face a further loss of expected revenue well in excess of £12 million. We have to assume that any league or tournament rugby would also then be unable to take place for a period, exacerbating the loss of income.”
Scottish Rugby today issued an update in relation to steps being taken to manage its operations in light of the COVID-19 crisis.https://t.co/7mMpTmRmJI
— Scottish Rugby (@Scotlandteam) April 13, 2020
The SRU, which runs PRO14 clubs Glasgow and Edinburgh, employs 450 people including 157 male and female players.
Dodson had previously agreed to accept a 30% wage deferral while head coaches Gregor Townsend (Scotland), Richard Cockerill (Edinburgh) and Dave Rennie (Glasgow) had agreed 25% deferrals.
Comments on RugbyPass
Bulls***': Ex-England international calls out Eben Etzebeth… Not to his face but from very far away… after he’d left. Checked to make sure he wasn’t in the building.
80 Go to commentsHopefully this will mean a new Auckland league team to support in the west. Big Warriors fan but it’s very, very stale on that front and I’d like the option of another team if it was to watch league again. League needs to step up BIG time if its to get anywhere, another AK team and something from the capitol or south is a must for the game.
3 Go to commentsGood, deep interview, nice job Frankie!
1 Go to commentsNRL players don’t have anywhere near the number of Tests. Some people would be happy having Rest Homes full if 40 yo ex-players walking, or hobbling more like it, into walls. It’s just a game!
4 Go to commentsNOW Razor is worried about ABs getting injured or overplayed! Didn’t bother him last year. He happily played his AB Crusaders.
4 Go to commentsWhat is the World Rugby U20 players born year.
2 Go to commentsMuch like the Chiefs finally gave up waiting for Atu Moli to ever not be injured, you have to wonder if the Chiefs and Crusaders will let Josh Lord and Ethan Blackadder go next season. They’re being well paid to sit in the injury ward every year. Better off putting those funds towards someone who might actually play.
7 Go to commentsShowed better basic skills than some nz Super sides, who probably would have botched some of those backline moves. This tournament really is too short though. Needs more teams, or have them play two rounds to properly prepare them for the near full-time NH U20 sides.
4 Go to commentsGood grief it’s only six months. Probably just upset it’s not an established kiwi entering their prime they can “project” into green to join the rest.
1 Go to commentsGood player but far from being best in the world. That's an exaggeration. Perhaps Best in world by Northern Hemisphere standards and biasis but certainly not Southern Hemi standards
3 Go to commentsWell one thing about World Cup knock out rounds and Ireland is very clear: they won’t be getting ahead of themselves in ‘27! Because making it beyond the QF is well and truly ‘IN THEIR HEADS’ now…😉
80 Go to commentsHas this guy been dope tested? Sounds like a case of “roid rage”.
1 Go to commentsI would like to see him say that to Eben face to face in a dark alley.
80 Go to commentsYep, lost in translation. There are arrogant people in Ireland, yes. As there are arrogant people in every country, but as a nation, arrogance is not a general characteristic in Ireland. There has not really had a strong representation for any global sport over the years, and hence arrogance is not endemic to Irish people in this regard. I seriously doubt that was said or meant by 12 or 13 players. If it was said, it would have been said in jest and to pay Etzebeth and the Springboks a compliment for how hard fought the game was.
80 Go to commentsOne of the few Bidwell articles I can agree with. If coaches played their players through niggles and consistently played them 80mins then you could make an argument for resting protocols - they obviously don’t and are incredibly responsible, let’s give up the resting nonsense and let the boys play.
4 Go to commentsDaniel Gallan, please for the love of all that is holy, stop writing about rugby. Or at the very least stop telling people you are South African.
21 Go to commentsThis Dr.Rassie 6-2 filth is spreading. We need to ask World Rugby to ban something
1 Go to commentsPity he couldn’t call him a liar to his face, such a brave man.
80 Go to comments“You ain’t counting to 12 or 13 straight after a game, son!” Just because you don’t doesn’t mean everyone else doesn’t “I reckon if anyone said it they would have said, ‘Hopefully, see you in the final’.” Oh, you “reckon”, do you? You weren’t there, you weren’t part of the conversation but you know what was said… Id10T
80 Go to commentsNZ has such a rich history of quality number nines, and woman beaters.
2 Go to comments