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Rugby Players Ireland finally agree new pay deal with IRFU after weeks of talks

Ireland out-half Johnny Sexton. (Photo By Seb Daly/Sportsfile via Getty Images)

The Irish Rugby Football Union (IRFU) and Rugby Players Ireland (RPI) have finally reached an agreement on a new pay deal following lengthy negotiations. The two parties had been locked in talks about potential pay cuts for weeks, and have now put in place a new deal to cover the second half of the season.

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Rugby players in Ireland had been on a pay deferral scheme since March, when the coronavirus pandemic saw rugby seasons suspended across the globe.

Those pay deferrals had ranged from 10% to 50%, depending on a player’s salary level. That pay deferral scheme was only in place until the end of June, and it had been reported that the IRFU had wanted to replace that arrangement with salary reductions of up to 20%.

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Talks between the two parties hit a major bump last month when the RPI issued a statement outlining their unhappiness after reports of those 20% reductions surfaced in the media.

However the two parties have now agreed a new deal, which will protect the lowest earners in the Irish game.

Under the new agreement, players who earn up to €25,000 per annum will not have their salaries impacted.

Players who earn over €25,000 per annum will see a 10% salary reduction from July 1 to December 31.

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They will also see a 10% salary deferral for the same period, although 5% of that deferral will be subject to a retrospective salary reduction “pending the ongoing impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic.”

Philip Browne, Chief Executive of the IRFU, said: “Irish Rugby, like all sports organisations, businesses and society in general, has been severely impacted by the ongoing COVID-19 crisis with major uncertainty continuing around our future financial income streams.

“The IRFU, the Provinces and Clubs remain in a highly precarious financial situation, making it critically important that an agreement was reached on this matter.”

RPI Chief Executive Simon Keogh added: “Aware of the significant challenges facing not just rugby but the country as a whole as a result of the Covid-19 pandemic, we believe the agreement reached is reflective of our shared ambition to see rugby at all levels continue to thrive.

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“We would like to acknowledge the good working relationship with the IRFU that has underpinned the process and will continue to contribute to Ireland’s on-field success.

“The players have already returned to work and are focused on preparing for the much-anticipated return to competitive rugby in August.”

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reginaldgarcia 1 hour ago
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JW 2 hours ago
Kyren Taumoefolau All Blacks stance splits opinions on eligibility

MP are a NZ side through and through, NZ is even having to pay for it.

Yes they caved to public demand, I bet it accomplished a lot of internal goals. They could have left it to the other groups, but I’m of the belief that they weren’t showing the capability to make it work as being a good reason for NZR to jump in and do it. I think it’s actually funded 50/50 between NZR and WR though.

(when nothing was stopping a pi player playing for any side in Super Rugby)

Neither is that fact true. Only 3 non NZ players are allowed in each squad.


I see you also need to learn what the term poach means - take or acquire in an unfair or clandestine way. - Moana have more slots for non eligible players (and you have seen many return to an NZ franchise) so players are largely making their own choice without any outside coercion ala Julian Savea.

Not one of these Kiwis and Aussies would go live in the Islands to satisfy any criteria, and I’d say most of them have hardly ever set foot in the islands, outside of a holiday.

Another inaccurate statement. Take Mo’unga’s nephew Armstrong-Ravula, if he is not eligible via ancestry in a couple of generations time, he will be eligible because he plays his rugby there (even if he’s only their for rugby and not living there), that is a recent change made by World Rugby to better reflect examples like Fabian Holland and Fakatava.

It’s becoming the jump-ship/zero loyalty joke that international League is.

Look I understand you’re reason to cry and make an example at any opportunity, but you don’t really need to anymore, other recent changes made by WR are basically going to stop the Ireland situation, and time (perhaps no more than a decade) will fix the rest.

26 Go to comments
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