Jones: Pay cut is no grand gesture in current climate
ENGLAND head coach Eddie Jones says his decision to take a pay cut in the wake of the coronavirus outbreak is nothing compared to the sacrifices being made by the rest of society.
It was back in March that Jones agreed, along with the Rugby Football Union’s highest-paid executives, to cut his £750,000-a-year salary by more than 25 per cent.
The RFU have been hit hard by the Covid-19 pandemic and are forecasting revenue losses could reach more than £100million if the autumn internationals are cancelled.
Jones has already taken a pay cut and it may have to be extended, but the Australian believes that is nothing compared to what others have endured at this time.
“I don’t think it is a particularly grand gesture by me. I was asked to do it. I understand the situation,” Jones said.
“I worked at a school for three months for no pay. That is now one of the most prestigious schools in Sydney. Sometimes you have to make sacrifices and the sacrifice I am making compared to what other people are making in sport and society is nil.
“Any sort of cuts we have to take now in terms of staff or players, we have got to look at in terms of what is happening in society.
“I feel for anyone who has had a cut. I feel for anyone who has lost their jobs. We know that is happening at the moment.”
England’s tour to Japan this summer was cancelled and they are not due in action until the autumn.
After that, several of Jones’s key players will be plying their trade in the Championship, with captain Owen Farrell this morning the latest to pledge his allegiance to the relegated Premiership champions Saracens.
Jones, however, has no fears about picking his fly-half, or his club-mate Maro Itoje, while they are playing in the second tier of English rugby.
“I will be comfortable if they’re in good form,” he said.
“Players who have a track record of Test match success, I will have a pretty good idea of where they are and where they need to be.
“If I look at Owen, it doesn’t matter what game he plays, I will have a pretty good understanding of where he is.”