Pivac and WRU chief take 25% salary cut

Wales head coach Wayne Pivac and Welsh Rugby Union chief executive Martyn Phillips are to take 25 per cent salary reductions amid the coronavirus shutdown.

The WRU said it had announced “further measures to reduce costs during the current period of inactivity in the game in Wales”.

It added: “With no stadium events currently and pressure on other income streams, and following indepth reviews of potential ‘return to rugby’ dates, a comprehensive plan for cost savings has been implemented.

“The first part of this plan, the reduction of outgoings and a review of ongoing projects, has already delivered cash savings for the WRU. Phase two included a review of staff costs.”

Earlier this month, the WRU cancelled all league and cup competitions in Wales this season due to the Covid-19 crisis.

Measures to be adopted from today are salary reductions for Pivac, Phillips and senior rugby staff and WRU executives; further staff taking pay cuts of either 25 or 10 per cent, with the difference broadly accounted for by the extent to which roles are directly related to professional rugby; and furloughing being implemented where applicable until the end of May.

Elsewhere, operational staff at the Principality Stadium in Cardiff have been offered the opportunity to continue in full-time work supporting NHS staff as the national ground is transformed into a fully-functional field hospital.

Phillips said: “I have been struck by the efforts and attitude of all WRU staff during this crisis. As businesses across the country are faced with similar difficult decisions, adopting this new policy was made all the more challenging as everywhere you look everyone at the WRU has ‘rolled up their sleeves’ and adapted.

“However, we have taken these steps to aim to safeguard jobs and protect the medium and longterm health of the game in Wales. We remain focused on our goal to come out of the other side of this crisis.”