Sale players ‘fully behind’ new pay cut for salary cap
SALE Sharks are the first Premiership club to have reached agreements with all players and staff over the implementation of permanent pay cuts in line with new salary cap rules.
Clubs voted unanimously last week to reduce the cap by £1.4m from the 2021/22 season onwards – prompting a threat of strike action from the Rugby Players’ Association.
However Sale, whose squad includes South Africa World Cup winners Faf de Klerk and Lood de Jager, say they have struck a deal which will ensure the current squad stays together.
The club said: “In order to navigate through these challenging times, Sale Sharks have had to have some difficult discussions to ensure the future of the club for its supporters, players and staff and we are very pleased to say that all of our players and staff share the club’s vision and ambition of a sustainable future.
“We are delighted to announce that the club has reached agreement with every single player regarding amended terms to their contracts to facilitate this and that our squad will remain together for the next three or four years.
“The club would also like to thank all our non-playing team including commercial, coaching and medical staff, as they also have agreed pay cuts.
“Every single person at Sale Sharks has accepted a reduction and is contributing to getting Sale Sharks through these difficult times.
“We look forward to returning to action and completing the 2019/20 Gallagher Premiership season as soon as it is safe to do so.”
The situation at Sale contrasts sharply with issues elsewhere, with the Premiership this week breaking off contact with the Players’ Association, which had accused the league of showing an ‘absolute disregard’ for players’ interests.
Sale’s director of rugby warned last week that pay cuts at all clubs were necessary.
He said: “The financial situation is simple, there is no money coming in so there are going to have to be pay cuts, however horrendous that is, but that’s the way it is going to have to be.
“But playing is what’s important to them (the players). Money is important to everyone, but it is doing what they do well every day of their lives is what they are missing.”