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Leaked letter reveals the ground rules for Welsh players' pay deferral

(Photo by Shaun Botterill/Getty Images)

Wales players have outlined the ground rules for a 25 per cent WRU pay deferral  – not a pay cut – that would last until August 2020. 

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Following a recent change in the way Welsh players are paid, the WRU pays 80 per cent of the salaries of the 38 top-ranking players, while the regions they play for cover the remaining 20 per cent. Other players are paid entirely by the regions.

Wales coach Wayne Pivac and WRU chief executive Martyn Phillips have each taken a 25 per cent pay cut, while the WRU also announced that other non-playing staff members are taking a 10 per cent wage cut.

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There has yet to be an agreement with the players, however, the latest development being a leaked letter winding up getting published on the walesonline.co.uk website.

Written by Barry Cawte, chief executive of the Welsh Rugby Players Association (WRPA) and dated April 2, it read: “The WRPA executive committee have now unanimously agreed on a position in relation to the WRPA’s proposal to help address the financial situation facing the game in Wales, due to the current Covid-19 pandemic.

“With the fixed-term nature of our members’ contracts, and considering the uncertainty of the current playing situation, the executive committee have decided that the below is the most appropriate and efficient solution to help aid the financial uncertainty currently being faced.

“A deferral of 25 per cent of monthly gross basic salaries for the next five months (April to August 2020) across all male professional players in Wales who are WRPA members. These deferred sums are to be paid to players unconditionally and in full by April 30 2021;

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“However, the first £25,000 of each player’s annual gross basic salary should be protected and should not be subject to any deferral. This is to help protect those in a potentially vulnerable position;

“In addition, if a player’s employment contract should end, or if a player does not renew their current contract, all deferred monies should be paid immediately upon conclusion of their current contract.”

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SK 38 minutes ago
Why England's defence of the realm has crumbled without Felix Jones

The way they are defending is sometime pathetic to be honest. Itoje is usually on the inside of the rush and he is paired with a slower tight forward. Unable to keep up with the rush we have seen the line become disconnected on the inside where the big boys are. How many times have we seen Earl rush past the first receiver almost into no mans land covering no attacker. It looks like a system without any guidance. Tome Wright, Ikitau and a number of Wallabies went back to this soft centre as did Williams, Jordan and several others. Also when the line is broken the multiple lines of defence seems to be missing. The rush is predicated on a cover and recovery system with multiple lines of defence but with England you dont see it any more. Fitness and conditioning seems to be off as well as players are struggling to keep up with the intensity of the rush. Felix Jones has left a huge hole. The whole situation was and is a mess. Why they insist on not letting him go and having him work remotely is beyond me. Its leading to massive negative press and is a hot button issue thats distracting from the squad. Also the communication around Jones and his role has been absolute rubbish and is totally disjointed. While some say he is working remotely and playing a role others are saying theres been no contact. His role has not been defined and so people keep asking and keep getting different answers. England need a clean break from him and need to start over. Whatever reason for his leaving its time to cut the rope before the saga drags the whole Borthwick regime down. As for Joe El Abd well good luck to him. He is being made to look like an amateur by the whole saga and he is being asked to coach a system thats not his and which has been perfected and honed since 2017 by Nienaber, Jones, Erasmus and Co and which was first started by White in 2004. He is literally trying to figure out a system pioneered by double world cup winning coaches at the highest level and coach it at the same time. Talk about being on a hiding to nothing.

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