Wallabies say pay war won’t distract as RA go on offensive with letter to players
Amid a collective bargaining agreement stalemate, Rugby Australia boss Phil Waugh has written to every professional player with details of their offer – and a warning.
The RA missive comes after Waugh said at the weekend the governing body had been denied the opportunity to address players by RUPA.
“This letter is the first opportunity the Rugby Bodies have had to put their position to you directly,” Waugh wrote.
The letter claims to lay out the offer made by the Rugby Bodies to RUPA, including a minimum of $158.5 million in player payments, an increase from 29 per cent to 32 per cent of Gross Player Revenue. There would also be an increase of national contract money by a third in men’s rugby, up to $8 million a year, and a 90 per cent increase in funding for the “Women’s Integrated Rugby Program”, to $3.5 million. The letter also says the number of full-time Wallaroos players will be doubled.
RA proposed to increase the Super Rugby salary cap floor to $5 million (up from $4.5 million), rising to $5.8 million in 2030. There is also a lift in minimum full-time player salaries ($65,000) and core player salaries ($85,000), with a $2500 rise each year.
