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Letters being sent to all Premiership players as entire league gets furloughed

By Chris Jones
Luke Cowan-Dickie after the Exeter's loss to Saracens

England’s Premiership rugby clubs are informing players they are being furloughed during the COVID-19 crisis with individual letters expected to be sent out by all 12 clubs.

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The Rugby Players Association is understood to be “picking up the pieces” and advising the players of their legal position in relation to their contracts following this latest move by the clubs to try and avoid going out of business but the union has issued a strongly worded statement denying they fuelling unrest amongst their members.

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The clubs are taking this step amid fears some could be pushed to the financial brink without match day income and under the Government scheme clubs will be able to claim back £2,500 per month per individual from the state.

As they continue to offer their more than 700 members advice, the RPA said: “To suggest that the RPA are trying to turn the players against the clubs is wholly disingenuous. As the Players Union, our duty is to pass on as much information as possible in a fast-moving and ever-changing daily environment.

“No one knows when the rugby season will start again, but we all recognise and understand that the professional clubs are the lifeblood of the game in this country and we all share a collective responsibility to emerge from this crisis in as strong a position as possible.

“Following on from the news earlier this month that the PRL member clubs were making pay cuts across their 13 clubs, there have been several misleading reports in the media regarding the stance of the RPA and our 700+ members impacted. During that time we have been working closely with all playing squads providing them with legal and financial guidance to assist them with personal decisions in relation to the imposed salary cuts.

“From the outset the players have recognised the current global financial crisis caused by COVID-19 and both they and the RPA fully support the principle of pay cuts. We all understand that the very material alternative is that some of the PRL Clubs, like many other businesses during this Pandemic, are at risk of insolvency, potentially causing hundreds of job losses across the industry amongst playing and non-playing staff, which would be devastating.

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“Based on the financial freefall the game and the world is facing, accepting a pay cut and supporting the clubs is undoubtedly a positive step for the long term survival of our industry. We are in constructive dialogue with Premiership Rugby to understand what happens next in relation to players coming off contract, injured players, lower-earning Academy players and deliberating when returning to full training and subsequent pay may be possible.

“To expect that players or any employees will not take advice without asking reasonable questions around their futures and livelihoods, especially when they are on fixed term contracts has made this process very challenging, but we are working through that. The entire player group sees the bigger picture here, is supportive of the clubs and wants to continue the constructive and positive dialogue to find the right solutions for the game in England.

“Our discussions will continue across the clubs and with PRL so that the game is aligned when a clearer picture emerges of how and when rugby can resume. Until that time, we will be making no further comment on this matter.”

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A
Adrian 56 minutes ago
Will the Crusaders' decline spark a slow death for New Zealand rugby?

Thanks Nick The loss of players to OS, injury and retirement is certainly not helping the Crusaders. Ditto the coach. IMO Penny is there to hold the fort and cop the flak until new players and a new coach come through,…and that's understood and accepted by Penny and the Crusaders hierarchy. I think though that what is happening with the Crusaders is an indicator of what is happening with the other NZ SRP teams…..and the other SRP teams for that matter. Not enough money. The money has come via the SR competition and it’s not there anymore. It's in France, Japan and England. Unless or until something is done to make SR more SELLABLE to the NZ/Australia Rugby market AND the world rugby market the $s to keep both the very best players and the next rung down won't be there. They will play away from NZ more and more. I think though that NZ will continue to produce the players and the coaches of sufficient strength for NZ to have the capacity to stay at the top. Whether they do stay at the top as an international team will depend upon whether the money flowing to SRP is somehow restored, or NZ teams play in the Japan comp, or NZ opts to pick from anywhere. As a follower of many sports I’d have to say that the organisation and promotion of Super Rugby has been for the last 20 years closest to the worst I’ve ever seen. This hasn't necessarily been caused by NZ, but it’s happened. Perhaps it can be fixed, perhaps not. The Crusaders are I think a symptom of this, not the cause

7 Go to comments
T
Trevor 3 hours ago
Will forgotten Wallabies fit the Joe Schmidt model?

Thanks Brett.. At last a positive article on the potential of Wallaby candidates, great to read. Schmidt’s record as an international rugby coach speaks for itself, I’m somewhat confident he will turn the Wallaby’s fortunes around …. on the field. It will be up to others to steady the ship off the paddock. But is there a flaw in my optimism? We have known all along that Australia has the players to be very competitive with their international rivals. We know that because everyone keeps telling us. So why the poor results? A question that requires a definitive answer before the turn around can occur. Joe Schmidt signed on for 2 years, time to encompass the Lions tour of 2025. By all accounts he puts family first and that’s fair enough, but I would wager that his 2 year contract will be extended if the next 18 months or so shows the statement “Australia has the players” proves to be correct. The new coach does not have a lot of time to meld together an outfit that will be competitive in the Rugby Championship - it will be interesting to see what happens. It will be interesting to see what happens with Giteau law, the new Wallaby coach has already verbalised that he would to prefer to select from those who play their rugby in Australia. His first test in charge is in July just over 3 months away .. not a long time. I for one wish him well .. heaven knows Australia needs some positive vibes.

21 Go to comments
B
Bull Shark 7 hours ago
Jake White: Are modern rugby players actually better?

Of the rugby I’ve born witness to in my lifetime - 1990 to date - I recognize great players throughout those years. But I have no doubt the game and the players are on average better today. So I doubt going back further is going to prove me wrong. The technical components of the game, set pieces, scrums, kicks, kicks at goal. And in general tactics employed are far more efficient, accurate and polished. Professional athletes that have invested countless hours on being accurate. There is one nation though that may be fairly competitive in any era - and that for me is the all blacks. And New Zealand players in general. NZ produces startling athletes who have fantastic ball skills. And then the odd phenomenon like Brooke. Lomu. Mcaw. Carter. Better than comparing players and teams across eras - I’ve often had this thought - that it would be very interesting to have a version of the game that is closer to its original form. What would the game look like today if the rules were rolled back. Not rules that promote safety obviously - but rules like: - a try being worth 1 point and conversion 2 points. Hence the term “try”. Earning a try at goals. Would we see more attacking play? - no lifting in the lineouts. - rucks and break down laws in general. They looked like wrestling matches in bygone eras. I wonder what a game applying 1995 rules would look like with modern players. It may be a daft exercise, but it would make for an interesting spectacle celebrating “purer” forms of the game that roll back the rules dramatically by a few versions. Would we come to learn that some of the rules/combinations of the rules we see today have actually made the game less attractive? I’d love to see an exhibition match like that.

29 Go to comments
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