Rugby clubs have left players in the dark
UNTIL now, the bloodgate scandal at Harlequins was the most unsettling period of my career. During those few months we were kept in the dark about a lot of things. Who was our coach? Would the owners pull out? Would we be l eft with a club? There were investigations left, right and centre.
I thought nothing else i n rugby would ever come close to that, but the past few weeks have brought just as much uncertainty. It feels as if our sport has been brought to its knees, but the fact we resume stage two training tomorrow offers some light at the end of the tunnel.
Sports people’s salaries are always a difficult subject to talk about in the public arena. Most of us are paid a good living for doing something we love, so you look like a greedy so- and- so if you speak out. Sometimes it’s better to just nod and smile, but at other times you have to stand your ground.
It was inevitable that rugby salaries would eventually come crashing down. They have risen and risen for the past few years, while a lot of things in the sport have remained the same. It has provided the wake-up call the sport needed. What has been frustrating as a player is that, like bloodgate, a lot of players have been kept in the dark. Harlequins have been very good at engaging with us, but players at other clubs have told a different story. Most developments have played out in the media before the players have been informed. The lack of consultation has been disrespectful. I understand that we need to take a pay cut to help our clubs keep their heads above the water. But I do scratch my head about how we’ve ended up in this mess. How has a superstar like Manu Tuilagi potentially been left without a club? A lot of mistakes have been made along the way. Why was the salary cap not set at a sustainable level in the first place? It’s frustrating. People in all walks of life have taken financial hits recently and I sympathise with every one of them. There are lots of Premiership players who don’t earn sixfigure salaries. Bearing i n mi n d that careers don’t last much more than 10 years, a 25 per cent pay cut will have a big impact on their life.
Contrary to popular belief, rugby players don’t all own a footballerstyle garage full of Ferraris!
I’m fortunate to have had a strong and financially good career, but I still live within my means. I’m conscious that I’m 34 and won’t keep playing forever, so you have to budget for life after rugby, and cut your cloth accordingly.
Costs I had factored in before the pay cuts suddenly become tight. I’ve heard about players who have had to sell their car and another who will have to put his house on the market if the cuts continue beyond August. Guys have commitments like mortgages, childcare and building work. It’s not the end of the world, but players are not immune to certain stresses of life.
Does it surprise me now to see young guys exploring the option of a move abroad? Not at all. It comes down to what the player sees as their highest priority. Is it playing for England? Is i t staying at one club your whole career? Is it looking after your family?
When I was a 21-year-old, I was desperate to win things for Harlequins and England. If someone is concerned about their financial security, you can’t begrudge them for looking at other options. If I was 21 again and knew I could earn more money abroad, and return a better player in my mid 20s, I would probably consider it too in the current climate.
The big positive is that we are closer to getting back on the pitch and it is an opportunity for the sport to look at how it wants to reset itself. I’m a big supporter of summer rugby. I copped a bit of heat on social media when I called for it in one of my recent columns.
A lot of parents were concerned about their kids getting injured on hard pitches. I understand that, but would t hat st op me from letting my son play? Probably not. Having a cricket ball flying t owards your head is j ust as dangerous, in my opinion.
I appreciate that professional clubs have the means to regularly water their pitches, unlike amateur clubs, but maybe that’s a provision the RFU could look at.
Summer rugby has become a central conversation in the global calendar, and I think the game would be a more marketable product as a result.