Clubs and players’ union on collision course over cap cut
THE Rugby Players’ Association has accused Premiership clubs of making a personal attack on its members as relations between the two groups further soured.
The RPA described it as a “sad day in the history of rugby” after clubs released a joint statement accusing the union of serving to “sow division and create uncertainty” instead of supporting its members.
The row follows the unanimous decision by clubs to reduce the salary cap from £6.4million to £5million for next season.
Players across England’s top-flight had earlier taken temporary 25 per cent wage cuts in response to the coronavirus crisis and some clubs are now aiming to reduce high-earners’ salaries permanently.
The RPA claimed that players were being put under undue pressure to sign amended contracts before a “manufactured” deadline of June 18 and warned a “significant legal dispute” was inevitable unless genuine and urgent dialogue took place.
RPA chairman and Harlequins prop Mark Lambert also refused to rule out strike action - which met with a lengthy response in the form of a statement given to The Times,
GALLAGHER Premiership clubs voted unanimously to temporarily reduce the salary cap.
The vote refers only to the salary cap changes from 2021-22 until 2023-2024, and not to any individual salary or contract.
The cap will be reduced in the 2021-22 season and will return to the current level before the start of the 2024-25 season at the latest.
From 2021-22
The senior ceiling will be £5m said to be from all Premiership clubs, in which they stated: “Player welfare is of high priority to the clubs, and our concern is that individuals are not receiving appropriate advice at this current time.
“For example, the RPA urging players not to negotiate a compromise, privately threatening strike action and publicly opposing reductions without offering any feasible solutions has resulted in a predicament that suits nobody - not the league, the clubs, the players’ union or the players themselves.” (down from £6.4m), and it will continue to be linked to the central growth of Premiership Rugby.
Home-grown player credits will be retained up to £600,000.
International and EPS player credits will be retained but limited to a maximum of £400,000.
Season-long loans salary cap exemption will be removed.
The academy ceiling will remain at £100,000 (this is for non-home grown academy players) but the upper salary limit for an academy
The statement also claimed the RPA had privately accepted the need for salary cuts and claimed 25 per cent was reasonable and accused the RPA of missing a deadline to sign a non-disclosure agreement and thus a chance to engage with Premiership Rugby (PRL).
In response, the players’ association said: “PRL and the clubs have decided to publicly criticise the RPA and, by doing so, personally attack players and their representatives.
“Throughout this crisis both the RPA and players have been open to a player will increase from £30,000 to £50,000.
Homegrown academy players do not get counted in the £100,000, boosting the clubs’ ability to support young English qualified talent.
For any existing contracts that continue into the 2021-22 salary year, and beyond, their cap cost will be counted at 75% of their overall actual value, to sensibly manage the transition to new cap levels.
From 2022-23
Excluded players will reduce to collaborative and positive solution to address the long-term financial viability of the game.”
The RPA insisted its board had unanimously opposed permanent wage cuts, had never received any detailed financial information from the league or clubs or any deadline to respond to the non-disclosure agreement.
The union claimed its offer for independent mediation remained unanswered, criticised a lack of consultation and denied accusations that it had privately threatened strike one player, except for where a club has a current contract in place for two excluded players.
In that scenario, both players may remain as excluded players until the first of their contracts expire.
The decision to reduce from two excluded players to one is based on balancing financial sustainability while still attracting the best talent from around the world to the league. From 2024-25
The senior ceiling will return to a minimum of £6.4m.
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action.
The statement finished: “The players are a vital part of the game and deserve to be treated with respect, a key value of rugby.
“The unreasonable approach that the clubs are taking will continue to cause substantial long-term damage to player and club relations going forward.
“The clubs’ statement ends with a call for mutual understanding and respect, both require reciprocation.
“Our offer of mediation remains open.”