Northern Edition

Select Edition

Northern Northern
Southern Southern
Global Global
New Zealand New Zealand
France France

'Any players thinking that this is a ticket to a golden pot, I think will be sorely disappointed'

(Photo by Dan Mullan/Getty Images)

Rugby Australia interim CEO Rob Clarke has warned players can’t expect a “golden pot” overseas and isn’t concerned others will try to force RA’s hand, after his organisation released three Queensland Reds.

ADVERTISEMENT

Wallabies lock Izack Rodda, fellow second-rower Harry Hockings and five-eighth Isaac Lucas decided to terminate their contracts after the QRU stood them down on Monday, when they declined to accept a reduction in pay and nominate for the Australian government’s JobKeeper subsidy.

The trio’s manager Anthony Picone said the players had arrived at their decisions because of enormous uncertainty surrounding the financial state of rugby, including the lack of a broadcast deal, and ability for contracts to be honoured into the future.”

Video Spacer

Reds trio terminate contracts

Video Player is loading.
Current Time 0:00
Duration 1:24
Loaded: 0%
Stream Type LIVE
Remaining Time 1:24
 
1x
    • Chapters
    • descriptions off, selected
    • captions off, selected
    • en (Main), selected
    Video Spacer

    Reds trio terminate contracts

    RA and the Rugby Union Players Association recently agreed on an interim pay deal, where the players took pay cuts of an average of 60 per cent.

    Clarke said on Saturday a deed release had been signed overnight.

    There’s a suggestion the three players may join Japanese clubs.

    But if they don’t find a new home overseas quickly, Clarke suggested they wouldn’t be able to play in Australia in the short term.

    “If they wish to go overseas then that’s their decision, there’s no avenue open to them in Australia at this time,” Clarke said.

    Asked if he could see a time when the trio are welcome back in Australian rugby, Clarke said “we are not looking that far ahead.”

    ADVERTISEMENT

    Clarke said RA could have considered legally challenging the termination decisions, but felt releasing the players was the most prudent course of action.

    “Going to court is always a last resort and it’s a brutal ending to any conflict,” he said.

    “So you would always like to try and mediate and conciliate along the way to try and get to an outcome that suits both parties, in this case we haven’t been able to.

    “We are very disappointed because those players were part of how we saw the futu re but they have their rights and they are entitled to do what they have done.”

    ADVERTISEMENT

    He isn’t expecting other players might try to jump ship and extricate themselves from a contract now a precedent had been set.

    “We haven’t had any indication from RUPA, or any other players, that they are looking beyond our shores,” Clarke said.

    Cash-strapped RA recently reported a $9.4 million loss, but is getting $14 million of support from World Rugby.

    Clarke noted other countries were suffering financially and terminating contracts, but looking overseas wouldn’t guarantee players a larger income.

    “I think therefore other options for any players thinking that this is a ticket to a golden pot, I think will be sorely disappointed,” he said.

    Clarke said RA had very fruitful discussions with current broadcast partner Fox Sports about the shape of how the remainder of the year looks.

    “Those discussions will continue next week and I’m confident that we will get some clarity within a week or two, given that we are trying to kick off a Super Rugby season domestically on July 3 and 4,” Clarke added.

    He said negotiations were continuing with Western Force to add them to the four existing Australian Super teams and didn’t rule out Japan’s Sunwolves also participating in a competition scheduled to end on September 19.

    ADVERTISEMENT

    South Africa vs New Zealand | The Rugby Championship U20's | Full Match Replay

    Argentina vs Australia | The Rugby Championship U20's | Full Match Replay

    Saitama Wildknights vs Tokyo Sungoliath | Japan Rugby League 2024/25 | Full Match Replay

    The Game that Made Jonah Lomu

    The gruelling reality behind one of the fastest sports in the world | The Report

    Boks Office | Episode 40 | The Steven Kitshoff Special

    Perry Baker in the house | HSBC Life on Tour | Los Angeles

    Confidence knocks and finding your people | Flo Williams | Rugby Rising Locker Room

    Trending on RugbyPass

    Comments

    0 Comments
    Be the first to comment...

    Join free and tell us what you really think!

    Sign up for free
    ADVERTISEMENT

    Latest Features

    Comments on RugbyPass

    S
    Solenn Bonnet 7 hours ago
    Leinster cleanse palette with record URC scoreline against Zebre

    My name is Solenn Bonnet, and I am a single mother navigating the challenges of raising my two-year-old child while trying to make ends meet. I came across a trading platform that promised astonishing daily profits of 18%. The allure of such a high return on investment was too tempting to resist, and I found myself drawn into cryptocurrency trading. Excited by the prospect of financial freedom, I invested a significant amount of my savings, totaling over 5.7 BTC. However, what started as a hopeful venture quickly turned into a nightmare. The platform was a scam, and I lost everything I had invested. The emotional toll of this loss was immense; I felt devastated and helpless, struggling to provide for my child and keep up with my bills. In my desperate attempt to recover my funds, I sought help from various recovery experts. Unfortunately, I encountered numerous fraudulent individuals who claimed they could help me retrieve my lost money. Each time I reached out, I was met with disappointment and further scams, which only deepened my despair. Last year was one of the most challenging periods of my life, filled with anxiety and uncertainty about my financial future. Feeling overwhelmed and at a loss, I confided in a close friend from church about my situation. She listened compassionately and shared her own experiences with financial difficulties. Understanding my plight, she introduced me to Tech Cyber Force Recovery, a group of skilled hackers known for their expertise in recovering lost funds. Skeptical yet hopeful, I decided to reach out to them as a last resort. Their services came at a higher cost, but my friend generously offered to help me with a partial payment. I was amazed by how quickly they responded and began the recovery process. Their team was professional, efficient, and incredibly supportive throughout the entire ordeal. To my relief, they successfully recovered more than I had lost to those heartless scammers. This was truly transformative, and I felt a sense of relief and gratitude that I hadn’t felt in a long time. I strongly encourage anyone who has faced similar challenges or fallen victim to scams to reach out to Tech Cyber Force Recovery. If you’ve invested in a fraudulent platform like I did, they are highly capable of helping you reclaim your hard-earned money. Don’t lose hope; there is a way to recover what you’ve lost.

    CONSULT TECH CYBER FORCE RECOVERY

    EMAIL.. support@techyforcecyberretrieval.com

    WhatsApp.. +15617263697

    website.. https://techyforcecyberretrieval.com

    Telegram.. +15617263697

    0 Go to comments
    LONG READ
    LONG READ Lions 2025: ‘Lights, cameras...action’ Lions 2025: ‘Lights, cameras...action’
    Search