Wales' Six Nations squad members are believed to have held a decisive final vote on whether to accept the revised proposals to break Welsh rugby’s deadlock and play the match against England.
Saturday’s Wales v England Six Nations game had been under threat with players weighing up whether to strike over contract issues, the 60-cap rule and their lack of a voice in decisions that affect them. Professional players from across Welsh rugby gathered at the Vale Resort on Wednesday for an update after a Professional Rugby Board meeting in Cardiff.
WalesOnline understands national squad players decided among themselves in a separate meeting whether or not to accept a fresh package of proposals that would include the 60-cap rule becoming the 25-cap rule and the players being granted an active presence at PRB board meetings.
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The PRB have also offered flexibility on the fixed-variable element of contracts. You can read full details on the outcome of a dramatic day here.
The vote on the revised proposals saw around two thirds of the national squad vote to accept with the rest being prepared to hold out, some having been vexed by the whole saga and what was said during exchanges.
“Some were angry,” a source told WalesOnline.
“They were just unhappy at some of the things that had gone on.
“A few were thinking of not even going to Wednesday’s meeting because they were not happy.
“They don’t like the whole way they’ve been spoken to. ‘This is the contract, that’s it. These are the terms - that’s it.’
“They had a vote and two-thirds opted to accept, while the rest still would have gone on strike over the 60-cap rule, with people wanting it done away with completely.
“But they all agreed to go with the majority, whatever the vote was.”
A player at the meeting this afternoon confirmed they’d been told that the 60-cap rule would be coming down to 25 caps and players could have the option of having fixed or fixed-variable contracts.
“Players’ requests are kind of being met,” he said.
PRB chair Malcolm Wall said on Wednesday evening: “We have listened to our players and have been able to resolve the three issues presented, quickly and efficiently.
“Any doubt over Wales’ meeting with England on Saturday has now been removed and the game is definitively on.
“The six-year framework we have agreed has always had the players’ best interests at heart and we have been happy to allay their understandable concerns with the adjustments described.
“Negotiations at PRB will continue in earnest as we seek to sign our new six-year PRA as soon as possible and we continue to be grateful to our professional players for their understanding and patience at this most critical time for the game in Wales.”
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