Saracens will not be saved from relegation
Saracens will not be saved from relegation and players are not threatening to strike as English rugby struggles to cope with the financial ramifications caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.
RugbyPass has been told there is no threat of a player strike in the wake of the 25 per cent wage cuts imposed by some Premiership clubs yesterday with all but Exeter expected to follow suit.
WATCH: Jim Hamilton is joined by Italy International and Benetton player Ian Mckinley to discuss the effects of COVID19 on the everyday life of a rugby player living in Italy.
It has been suggested the players would not agree to training camps once the immediate threat of the virus has ended until their full contracts are honoured. The unprecedented pressure on finances and the negative publicity that kind of stand would deliver has seen top officials move swiftly to deny there is a strike threat or that Saracens will be saved from relegation by the disrupted season.
Damian Hopley, the chief executive of the Rugby Players Associaton which represents professional players in England, told RugbyPass: “Any talk of strike action is misplaced. We are only 24 hours into this process and we want to establish a mature best practice with the Premiership clubs, a number of whom are in a better position than others, like Exeter who aren’t cutting wages.
“Suggestions of players taking any action is grossly exaggerated and my personal view is how would they go on strike when they are not playing matches? A lot of players are distressed about what has come out and we all recognise we are living in unprecedented times and the last thing anyone wants to see is half the league go out of business. We are in constant dialogue with the Premiership about the news from the Government about support for businesses and players would not want to put their clubs or colleagues in jeopardy.
“Once we get the information we need, the players then face a straight forward chocie – do they accept the pay cuts or not. In the conversations we are having with the players they want to know if is this a deduction or deferment?
“It is all about getting the most accurate information out to our membership and we recognise it is a time of crisis and we need to act collectively to come out the other end stronger. From an RPA perspective there is legal situation in terms of breach of contract but the last thing we all want is to throw money at lawyers when we need to get a clear direction of travel. There hasn’t been a uniform approach from the Premiership clubs and we are collecting information about the short and mid-term situation for players in terms of pay cuts.
“The meetings started on Thursday and were completed yesterday and this is about how the relationship between players, clubs and Unions redefined and are their better ways we can work. It is an horrific time and what is lost is that many clubs have backers who have stuck by them through thick and thin but away from rugby they are suffering horrendously at the moment. We understand the world is in freefall and all we are asking for is more information.“
With the Rugby Football Union ending all rugby below the Premiership, Championship leaders Newcastle have to wait until mid-April to find out if they are promoted while there are significant concerns over the ability of clubs such as Wasps – who are carrying debts of nearly £40m – to stay in business. Wasps are adamant their future is not in danger but their future may revolve around more loans from owner Derek Richardson. A scenario in which one of the Premiership clubs goes to the wall and that Saracens would then stay in the top flight has also been knocked down.
Saracens are still able to rely on the financial support of former chairman Nigel Wray and he has previously pledged to stand by the club despite standing down following the fine and points reductions which will see them operating with a much-changed squad in the Championship next season.
The Premiership clubs and Newcastle shared out £200m this season from private equity company CVC who bought a 27 percent share of the competition with 12 teams also netting £350,000 each from the Saracens fine of more than £5m but it is understood 50 per cent of that nearly £13m windfall was used to clear old debts by the clubs.
The remaining money has been used for player wages and planned stadium redevelopments leaving clubs like Gloucester facing outgoings of £1m a month with no revenue coming in. This has triggered the wage cuts that have also seen players, coaches and officials in all of the home Unions accepting smaller pay packets for the foreseeable future.
Comments on RugbyPass
“But with an exceptional pass accuracy rating “ Which apart from Roigard is not a feature of any of the other 9s in NZ. Kind of basic for a Black 9 dont.you. think? Yet we keep seeing FC and TJ being rated ahead of him? Weird if it’s seen as vital to get our backline beating in your face defences.
1 Go to commentsThanks BeeMc! Looks like many teams need extra time to settle from the quadrennial northern migration. I think generally the quality of the Rugby has held up. Fiji has been fantastic and fun to watch
13 Go to commentsLets compare apples with apples. Lyon sent weak team the week before, but nobody raised an eyebrow. Give the South African teams a few years to build their depth, then you will be moaning that the teams are too strong.
41 Go to commentsDid footballs agents also perform the scout role at some time? I’m surprised more high profile players haven’t taken up the occupation, great way to remain in the game and use all that experience without really requiring a lot of specific expertise?
1 Go to commentsSuper rugby is struggling but that has little to do with sabbaticals. 1. Too many teams from Aust and NZ - should be 3 and 4 respectively, add in 2 from Japan, 1 possibly 2 from Argentina. 2. Inconsistent and poor refereeing, admittedly not restricted to Super rugby. Only one team was reffed at the breakdown in Reds v H’Landers match. Scrum penalty awarded in Canes v Drua when No 8 had the ball in the open with little defence nearby - ideal opportunity to play advantage. Coming back to Reds match - same scrum situation but ref played advantage - Landers made 10 yards and were penalised at the breakdown when the ref should have returned to scrum penalty. 3. Marketing is weak and losing ground to AFL and NRL. Playing 2 days compared with 4. 4. Scheduling is unattractive to family attendance. Have any franchises heard of Sundays 2pm?
11 Go to commentsAbsolutely..all they need is a chance in yhe playoffs and I bet all the other teams will be nervous…THEY KNOW HOW TO WIN IM THE PLAYOFFS..
2 Go to commentsI really hope he comes back and helps out with some coaching.
1 Go to commentsI think we are all just hoping that the Olympic 7s doesn’t suffer the same sad fate as the last RWC with the officials ruining the spectacle.
1 Go to commentsPersonally, I’ve lost the will to even be bothered about the RFU, the structure, the participants. It’s all a sham. I now simply enjoy getting a group of friends together to go and watch a few games a year in different locations (including Europe, the championship, etc). I feel extremely sorry for the real fans of these clubs who are constantly ignored by the RFU and other administrators. I feel especially sorry for the fans of clubs in the Championship who have had considerable central funding stripped away and are then expected to just take whatever the RFU put to them. Its all a sham, especially if the failed clubs are allowed to return.
9 Go to commentsI’m guessing Carl Hayman would have preferred to have stayed in NZ with benefit of hindsight. Up north there is the expectation to play twice as many games with far less ‘player management’ protocols that Paul is now criticising. Less playing through concussions means longer, healthier, careers. Carter used as the eg here by Paul, his sabbatical allowed him to play until age 37. OK its not an exact science but there is far more expectations on players who sign for Top 14 or Engl Prem clubs to get value for the huge salaries. NZR get alot wrong but keeping their best players in NZ rugby is not one of them. SA clubs are virtually devoid of their top players now, no thanks. They cant threaten the big teams in the Champions Cup, the squads have little depth. Cant see Canes/Chiefs struggling. Super has been great this year, fantastic high skill matches. Drua a fantastic addition and Jaguares will add another quality team eventually. Aus teams performing strongly and no doubt will benefit with the incentive of a Lions tour and a home RWC. Let Jordie enjoy his time with Leinster, it will allow the opportunity for another player to emerge at Canes in his absence.
11 Go to commentsLove that man, his way to despise angry little men is so funny ! 😂
4 Go to comments“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
4 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.
9 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…??? 🤑🤑🤑
35 Go to commentsWow, that’s incredible. Great for rugby.
35 Go to commentsYou probably read that parling is going to coach the wallaby lineout but if not before now you have.
17 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)
4 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?
5 Go to comments