NEW COACH LEADS BY EXAMPLE
Rennie offers pay cut as work begins on Wallabies
WALLABIES coach Dave Rennie will sacrifice $67,500 of his salary to help Rugby Australia deal with the financial impact of COVID-19, despite already having done hours of work for free.
The incoming boss does not technically start his role in Australia until July, but has sent detailed video-review clips to his 40 players of national interest from this year’s Super Rugby season, highlighting areas they’re doing well while isolating aspects they must improve.
Senior players have been heavily impressed by Rennie’s tips and technical expertise — some saying they’ve never been taught some of the points he’s made.
Earlier this week, RA interim chief executive Rob Clarke said Rennie would not be among the senior staff asked to take a 5 per cent pay cut to help the business survive amid crippling financial losses from the pandemic.
However, Rennie spoke to Clarke on Thursday night and offered to take a 30 per cent pay cut on his annual $900,000 salary until September 30, when the average 60 per cent wage cuts for players expires.
Rennie had previously taken a 25 per cent pay cut at Scottish club Glasgow when the coronavirus stopped their competition.
He has since been working away on his Wallabies plans, calling players regularly to discuss strategy and alignment.
The additional saving on Rennie’s salary will be welcomed by RA as they attempt to broker a deal with Fox Sports — owned by News Corp, publishers of The Daily Telegraph — regarding the five-team revamped domestic Super Rugby tournament, and proposed Rugby Championship that could be played in a hub in Australia.
While RA prepared their 2020 financial statement on the prospect of no games being played this year, The Daily Telegraph can reveal that they’re planning to play eight Test matches and could reap upwards of $8 million in bonus revenue.
Australia plans to play four Bledisloe Cup Tests against the All Blacks from October, including the two home games already scheduled for this year at Melbourne’s Marvel Stadium and Brisbane’s Suncorp Stadium. If fans can attend those games, and additional matches against world champions South Africa and Argentina, the huge boost in money from ticket sales, broadcasting and government funding will ensure that players will not be forced to extend their pay cuts beyond September.
But the situation beyond 2020 remains unclear, as RA has yet to lock in a broadcast deal. Fox Sports had offered a $US25 million-a-year deal late last year that was rejected by RA, and since then the COVID-19 pandemic has shattered the economic positions of all businesses including broadcasters and sporting codes.