How Wales fans have reacted online to players' strike threat
Former Wales back-rower Sam Cross believes the online reaction to the player strike threat ahead of the Guinness Six Nations match with England has highlighted the bright side of Welsh rugby. It emerged on Tuesday evening that all professional players in Wales, including those in the national squad under Warren Gatland, are to hold a crunch meeting where a possible strike will be discussed.
The acrimony stems from the stalemate in talks between the WRU and four regional teams over a new budgetary deal that had yet to be signed, leaving players who are out of contract at the end of the 2022/23 season in limbo.
It was reported by Sportsmail that one Wales player had turned to antidepressants while another had a mortgage offer turned down because he is soon to be out of contract. Cross, who was capped twice at Test level in November 2017 after making the switch to XVs following his 2016 Olympics 7s medal with Britain, is in his sixth season with Ospreys.
He tweeted: “Amazing support from the fans towards the players shows the bright side of Welsh rugby. All players are asking for is a fair deal and highlight the failure of PRB to properly consult us on issues that impact upon players’ well-being financially, physically and mentally.”
He added: “It’s time players stood up for ourselves and the WRPA had a seat on the PRB allowing us to have a voice in our own futures and on how the game is run going forward.”
We’re all behind you, Sam.
We’ll support you all in whatever you need to do to ensure you get a fair deal. ??— Ospreys Supporters (@OspreysSC) February 14, 2023
The reported strike threat ahead of the February 25 round three Six Nations game at home to England in Cardiff naturally became a huge talking point on social media after the story broke. Below is a cross-section of the multiple responses it generated:
“Solidarity to all Welsh rugby players affected by the ongoing contract uncertainty. They have been badly let down. They deserve better.”
“All for the strike, I hope they do it and more importantly, they see all the support for it from everyone, not just Wales fans like us. Feels like it could be a real watershed moment, WRU needs to be ripped up and started again. Now’s the time.”
“If they want to strike against their employers, their region, then they have the right to do so! That’s not what they are considering! They are considering not playing for their country! It’s not going to have maximum impact, Wales will still field a team!!”
“I think the strike is for all professionals in Wales. So effectively they are striking against the regions. It just so happens, for maximum impact, that it coincides with the second biggest game of the year for the national side.”
“It’s not a strike against Wales though, is it? There’s no questioning their love of country. It’s a strike against the WRU and the way the game is run in this country. The difference needs to be very clear.”
“If Wales’ players do indeed go on strike how does it work? Most strikes are designed to create maximum disruption, so would rugby players strike on matchdays? I can’t imagine players forfeiting games and yet it is the only day of the week that will cause disruption.”
“Everybody out! Things are bad. Things are really bad. The year 2023 will, in all likelihood, prove to be a watershed year for the Welsh Rugby Union.”
“Welsh Rugby Union players 2 go on strike? No Wales vs England Saturday week? The WRU have just put ticket prices up to £125 Almost £1.50 a minute. With 75 players in the region out of contract. It needs sorting now.”
“I’d love to see players being well paid but I’m not sure that the Welsh economy can support four full regional squads. English and French clubs have private funding that we just don’t have in Welsh rugby. Some countries have the support of regional and national governments.”
“Wales players will not strike and cause the England game to be called off. It’s just not going to happen.”
“The Valleys have been striking ever since this unviable farce of pretend regions that excluded them and North Wales was created. A worthy strike would be in support of Gatland’s call for integrated, inclusive regions for all – like Ireland.”
“WRU seem intent on killing rugby in Wales. Players and their families’ livelihoods are at stake, but that doesn’t matter to them. Wouldn’t trust them to organise a piss-up in a brewery. The players should 100 per cent strike.”
Comments on RugbyPass
“South African franchises would be powerhouses if we had all our overseas based players back in situ. We would have the same unbeatable aura the Toulouses, Leinsters or Saracens of this world have had over the last decade or so.” Proof that Jake white does not understand the economics of the game in SA. Players earning abroad are not going to simply come back and represent the bulls. But they might if they have a springbok contract.
22 Go to commentsA lot of fans just joined in for the fun of it! We all admire O'Gara and what he has done for La Rochelle
3 Go to commentsThe RFU will find a way to mess this up as usual. My bet is there will be no promotion into the the Premiership, only relegation into National League One. Hopefully they won’t parachute failed clubs into the league at the expense of clubs who have battled for promotion.
2 Go to commentsWell that’s the contracts for RG and Jordie bought and paid for. Now, what are the chances we can persuade Antoine to hop over with all the extra dosh we’ll have from living at the Aviva & Croke next season…??? 🤑🤑🤑
3 Go to commentsWow, that’s incredible. Great for rugby.
3 Go to commentsYou probably read that parling is going to coach the wallaby lineout but if not before now you have.
14 Go to commentsIf someone like Leo Cullen was in O’Gara’s place I don’t hear Boo-ing. It’s not just that La Rochelle has hurt Leinster and O’Gara is their Irish boss. It’s the needle that he brings and the pantomime activity before the game around pretending that Munster were supporting LaRochelle just because O’Gara is from Cork. That’s dividing Irish provinces just to get an advantage for his French Team. He can F*ck right off with that. BOOOOO! (but not while someone is lying injured)
3 Go to commentsDid the highlanders party too hard before the game? They were the pits.
1 Go to commentsWhat a player! Not long until he’s in the England side, surely?
2 Go to commentsHe seems to have the same aura as Marcus Smith - by which I mean he’s consistently judged as if he’s several years younger than he actually is. Mngomezulu has played 24 times for the Stormers. When Pollard was his age he had played 24 times for South Africa! He has more time to develop, but he has also had time to do some developing already, and he hasn’t demonstrated nearly as much talent in that time as one would expect. If he is a generational talent, then it must be a pretty poor generation.
4 Go to commentsThe greatest Springbok coach of all time is entirely on the money. Rassie and Jacques have given the south african public a great few years, but the success of the springbok selection policy will need to be judged in light of what comes next. The poor condition that the provincial system is currently in doesn’t bode well for the next few years of international rugby, and the insane 2026 schedule that the Boks have lined up could also really harm both provincial and international consistency.
22 Go to commentsJake White is a brilliant coach and a master in the press. This is another masterclass in media relations and PR but its also a very narrow view with arguments that dont always hold water. White wants his team to win, he wants the best players in SA and wants his team competitive. You however have to face up to the reality of a poor exchange rate and big clubs with big budgets. SA Rugby cant compete and unless it can find more money SA players will keep leaving regardless of Springbok eligibility and this happened in 2015 - 2017. Also rugby is not cricket. Cricket has 3 formats and T20 cricket is where the money is at. When it comes to club vs country the IPL is king but that wont happen because the international calendar does not clash with the club calendar in rugby. So the argument about rugby going down the same path as cricket is really a non-starter
22 Go to commentsNZ rugby seem not to have learnt anything from professional rugby. Super rugby was dying and SA left before they died with the competition. SA rugby did a u turn on their approach to international players playing overseas and such players are now selected for Bok teams. As much as each country would love to retain their players playing in local competitions, this is the way the world is evolving my friends. Move with it or stay 20 years behind the times. One more thing. NZ rugby hierarchy think they are the big cheese. Take a more humble approach guys. You do not seem to have your players best interests at heart.
3 Go to commentsBeaches? In Cardiff? Where?
1 Go to commentsHe is right , the Crusaders will be a threat. Scott Barrett, ( particularly), Fergus Burke , Codie Taylor, ( from sabbatical) etc due back soon for the Crusaders. There are others like Zach Gallagher too. People can right the Crusaders off, Top 8 , here we come !!
1 Go to commentsWe will always struggle for money to match the other sides but the least the WRU can do is invest properly in Welsh rugby. Too much has been squandered on vanity projects like the hotel and roof walk amongst others which will never see a massive return. Hanging the 4 pro sides out to dry over the last decade is now coming back to bite the WRU financially as well as on the pitch. You reap what you sow.
1 Go to commentsWhat do you get if you cross a doctor with a fish? A plastic sturgeon
14 Go to commentsWhat happened to feleti Kaitu’u? Hasnt played in a while right?
1 Go to commentsGregor I just can’t agree with you. You are trying to find something that just isn’t there. Jordie Barrett has signed until 2028. By the end of that he would have spent probably 11-12 years on Super Rugby and you say he can’t possibly have one season playing somewhere else. It is absurd. What about this scenario, the NZR play hard ball and he decides to leave and play overseas. How would that affect the competition. There seems to be an agenda by certain journalists to push certain agendas and don’t like it when it’s not to their liking. I fully support the NZR on this. Gregor needs to get a life.
3 Go to commentsHope he stays as believe he can do a great job.
1 Go to comments