RPA sets the record straight about alleged Premiership player strike
Damian Hopley has insisted players in England aren’t at loggerheads with their Gallagher Premiership clubs over the 25 per cent salary cuts implemented in recent weeks due to the coronavirus pandemic. The Rugby Players’ Association chief insisted it was in no-one’s best interests to cause rancour amid a crisis that will see a much-delayed finish to a season originally due to conclude with a showpiece Twickenham final on June 24.
Speaking to Jim Hamilton and Andy Goode on the latest edition of The Rugby Pod, the long-serving Hopley admitted the crisis that has brought rugby in England and around the world to a standstill initially caught his members on the hop. However, he insisted there is now unity among players who have accepted the reasons for the salary cuts, not the mutiny of potential strike action which was mentioned in some recent media reports.
“Players are accepting of cuts, it’s really important to reinforce that,” said Hopley. “It’s not deferment, it’s not as happened in other sports, this is actually ‘we recognise there is no money coming in’. The players by and large are accepting of the cuts.
“It’s not particularly pleasant but we all realise that everyone has to play their part… the bottom line is that when rugby is back on, everyone has got to start working together again and the last thing anyone wants to do now is burn bridges and get into all sorts of entrenched positions and fights because that is not going to serve anyone any purpose.
“So despite some media reports about revolutions and players being up in arms, of course there is distress around this very remarkable situation we are in but to say it is about revolution and turning us against clubs is simply not true.”
It was March 19, when Hopley chaired a meeting attended by player representatives from all the Premiership clubs, that the 25 per cent pay cut which has swept through the sport first emerged as it became known that Gloucester had already taken the decision to reduce payments. That revelation left the RPA chasing its tail, but there is now acceptance of the bigger picture which the need for the clubs in England to survive and not go to the wall.
“The clubs took the decision to make the pay cut so we have sort of been playing catch up ever since,” explained Hopley. “No one wants to see any clubs go bust. We all recognise the fantastic contribution owners have made and we have all benefited from it over the years in English club rugby, so the thought of the clubs going bust of the back of this is catastrophic for the sport.
“The advice we have given to players was just to buy a bit more time because coronavirus isn’t going away, this situation is not going away. Some people have taken this as a personal slight against them by the players, which it is absolutely not.
“It’s just saying, ‘Look, guys, let’s reserve our right to buy some time, let’s have some positive dialogue’. We are then introduced to that issue of furloughing which no one knew about until about a week later, so we were all trying to get up to speed on what that means for the clubs.
“Again, anything that brings money into the club environment when there is no discernible income has to be a good thing in terms of survival. A lot of it has just been about education, just trying to make sure the players are fully up to speed in the situation and just trying to create a positive dialogue.”
Further calls to Premiership Rugby and title sponsors Gallagher are now on Hopley’s diary for later this week, following on from Premiership Rugby’s statement on Wednesday that it will look to complete the current season but only when it is safe to do so.
“The word unprecedented has been bandied about and it’s fair to say we [RPA] have been flat out the last few weeks. We all recognise this is just the craziest time. What we have been trying to do is to make sense of all the issues around pay cuts, furloughing, all the different categories of players that are involved in the current economic freefall that is going on globally.
“There has been quite a bit of misinformation in terms of the media so we have been trying to bring the players up to speed on the rights, what the issues are, how we can help them and indeed get the better informed as to the current environment we are all suffering from across sport and in every single business in the world.
"It’s a lot more difficult for those lower paid players to stick their heads above the parapet because they might be judged for doing so."https://t.co/w5m6CkKwYw
— RugbyPass (@RugbyPass) March 27, 2020
“When you’re sitting on phone calls and talking to players about a sizeable chunk of income – in some cases this is more than 25 per cent – it’s a pretty grim conversation to be having. But some players have taken what I would call mature view and said if it means my club being saved and I have got a job at the end of the year then I’m actually willing to do that.
“That has been the really positive thing despite the initial shock. In terms of where are now from the initial shock, we have made some good progress but it really is a case of trying to understand when this will change and when we can get back to competitive rugby again. The players are champing at the bit to be plying their trade and playing rugby.
“The biggest issue now is when will the league return, when we will return to playing happen? No one can crystal ball that, no one can understand what will that looks like, when will players go back to full pay, all these things… there are big concerns.
“I hope we all get some external help because I would hate… it would be disastrous for the game if we lost clubs" @CoventryRugby boss @njperformanceuk fears the worst – writes @heagneyl ???https://t.co/W0CU4euLRu
— RugbyPass (@RugbyPass) March 29, 2020
“If we can’t conclude this season there are some massive financial holes that come with that. The interesting thing here is that it’s such a fast-moving environment and every day something new is being thrown up. The concern is that if this season doesn’t complete and money is called back from broadcast, sponsorship etc, that will have a catastrophic impact.
“That is one of the key messages… you try and be as positive as possible in our sport but you have got to paint the real picture. In talking to a number of club chief executive and owners who are pretty emotional in the current environment, there is a very real concern that some clubs might mot make it and that would be a disaster.
“That is the challenge now in the absence of any concrete return to play, return to training, return to full pay, return to turnstiles, it’s just quite hard at the moment to actually see where this will all end up. If nothing else we are all optimistic to try and work through this. We talk a lot about the collective, after what was a tricky start in all of this. We are trying to make amends and move forward as an entire game.”
Comments on RugbyPass
A wallaby front-row of Bell, Blake and Tupou…now that would be hefty
1 Go to comments“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.
10 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.
24 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.
10 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 comments