Hopefully we’ll still have jobs – Parkes
HADLEIGH Parkes has voiced players’ concerns about the future of the professional game in Wales as rugby union’s power-brokers tackle the financial crisis caused by the devastating coronavirus pandemic.
The Professional Rugby Board, has been involved in extensive talks with the Welsh Rugby Players’ Association about potential wage cuts for players with agreement expected to soon be reached.
Wales head coach Wayne Pivac and Welsh rugby’s top brass, led by union chief executive Martyn Phillips, have already taken a 25 per cent pay cut as the governing body slashes costs in response to a huge drop in income.
Elsewhere, England’s Rugby Football Union and New Zealand Rugby have warned they could each face loses of around £48m if the sport has an extended lay-off.
Players at all of England’s Gallagher Premiership clubs and with Championship leaders Newcastle Falcons have already accepted pay cuts.
Australia Rugby has stood down 75 per cent of its staff and Ireland has deferred salary payments to players and staff by up to 50 per cent following the lockdown and postponement or cancellation of matches as Covid-19 sweeps the world.
Parkes admitted it was hard to get to grips with what has happened in the 19 days since Wales’ Six Nations finale with Scotland was postponed on March 13.
“At times like this, the health and safety of the public is far more important than sport. The world is in the middle of a very serious situation,” said the centre.
“Rugby players are concerned like any other profession about what the future holds and hopefully the clubs, regions and WRU will come through this across the country.
“People have talked about sports people being uncertain when they are going to play again but for me personally it is not a problem. Hopefully when the day comes when we return to some sort of normality, people will still have their jobs,” Parkes wrote in his BBC column.
The 32-year-old revealed the Wales squad has been provided with Wattbikes, weights and other equipment with players having been given a 60-day training programme to maintain fitness.
■