I applaud the solidarity and brinkmanship that the senior Welsh internationals have displayed over the last couple of weeks. The veteran players were not really fighting the good fight for themselves, they are standing up for their friends and colleagues in the regional game.
Most of the established players in the Welsh team are very near the end of their careers and have well over 60 caps. They have earned good money for many years and would be offered a decent contract outside Wales if they wanted.
But they have exercised their power this week for their mates and the younger players who are coming through. They made a genuine threat to strike ahead of the WRU’s biggest pay day. They knew what they were doing, they had the WRU by the unmentionables and held out until they achieved an acceptable compromise.
