'If I was still playing, I would not sign these new contracts' - Warburton

Former Wales captain Sam Warburton has thrown his weight behind Wales internationals who have threatened to strike if the ongoing concerns around their financial futures are not met.

As recently as 2020 Warburton had been a technical coach for the breakdown and defence for the Welsh national side, but his former employers are unlikely to be thrilled with his position on the strike threat which could see the team pull out of their Guinness Six Nations game with England.

The four Welsh URC regions are yet to finalise their budgets – despite months of negotiations – and it’s left the bulk of Wales’ professional rugby players without certainty about their financial outlook.

Many players are unable to secure mortgages, with one Welsh international this week admitting that he had been subscribed to antidepressants due to the mental strain the fiasco has placed on him.

Welsh Rugby Union interim CEO Nigel Walker met with senior members of the Wales squad on Wednesday to further clarify the current position, following verbal agreement of a new six-year deal for the professional game in Wales.

The Professional Rugby Board (PRB) have said that the six-year agreement, which is understood to include a salary cap of £5 million, may “not meet the immediate expectations of all individuals involved.”

“The new agreement offers a complete funding package to the professional game in Wales, but it does come with financial limitations which will directly affect salary negotiations,” said PRB chair Malcolm Wall. “The cold facts are that the WRU and clubs have been paying salaries that their businesses cannot afford, so the new agreement establishes a new framework for contract negotiations.

“There is a stipulation that all current contracts will be honoured, but these businesses must return to a sustainable footing in order for the success we all crave to follow.

“The average salary of a Welsh professional rugby player under the new framework will be around £100k-per-year.”

Now Sam Warburton – writing in his column for the Times – has said he would not sign the new agreement if he was still playing.

“The players clearly do not feel valued by the Welsh Rugby Union and that has affected their performances on the field, and I can see why.

“I know from speaking to some of them this week that this issue has been really bugging the Wales players, and the feeling is so strong that the threat to strike is very real.

“They feel like they are, for want of a better expression, being shafted. So, I totally support the players and their threat to strike should some sensible agreement not be reached. If I was still playing, I would not sign these new contracts.”

The PRB say that while they accept that some better funded English and French clubs are paying more, there “is no room for manoeuvre” when it comes to the overall budget available for player contracts.

“We have absolute empathy with the professional players in Wales and are hugely grateful for all that they do for our national game, just as our regional sides are for the commitment of their players” said interim WRU CEO Nigel Walker.

“We know we are not in an ideal situation, but it is incredibly important for the whole game in Wales for us to get this next step right.

“We must get this right and if that means taking time to do so then that is the way it must be.

“Throughout all our negotiations our duty of care to our players in Wales has always been of paramount importance and that is why we have developed a solution around current contracts, which has been in place since the New Year.

“The next step is to confirm the deal and confirm these contracts and we will be moving as swiftly as we possibly can to that point.”