The Guinness Six Nations game between Wales and England will go ahead at the Principality Stadium in Cardiff this Saturday.
Both the Welsh Rugby Union and Welsh Rugby Players Association have been at loggerheads with each other over a string of issues, the most pressing of which was a freeze on the offering of new contracts to out-of-contract players, which left up to 90 players unsure whether they had jobs next season.
This lack of clarity, coupled with the controversial 60 cap rule which prevented player playing abroad being eligible for International selection unless they were uncapped or had 60 caps, had seen the Welsh players seriously considering taking industrial action.
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On Wednesday, every professional rugby player in Wales attended a meeting with Welsh Rugby Professional Rugby board on how to avoid a strike.
Talks were successful, and Wales' home clash with England, which generates in the region of £9million for the WRU, will go ahead as planned.
Acting WRU chief executive Nigel Walker said: “I’m pleased to announce that after extensive conversations and discussions over the last week the Wales-England game will go ahead as scheduled.
“It’s important going forward that we continue the dialogue over the last week or so, but not under the circumstances we’ve had over the last week or so.
“Ken (Owens) and I and some of the senior players will be meeting more regularly than perhaps we have in the past.”
Welsh Captain Ken Owens said, “We are obviously happy. There has been huge frustration over the last number of months that it got to this stage.
"We felt we had to make a stand, but the conversations that have taken place over the last 10 days or so have shown that some positive resolutions can be found.
“The players are satisfied, hence why the game is on on Saturday. It has been very tough, hugely frustrating. It has been a difficult period, but we have fronted up in training and prepared as we would for any Test match and we are looking forward to getting out there and going toe-to-toe with England.
“Of course it has been a distraction with everything that has been going on, but I have got to commend the players’ professionalism in this.
“When we have crossed that white line at training, we’ve done our work as professional players. We are really ready for Saturday.”
A new six-year financial deal between the cash-strapped WRU and the four regions of Wales (Dragons, Ospreys, Cardiff and Scarlets) had been agreed upon before Christmas.
That deal however has yet to be ratified and none of the four regions have their financial budgets confirmed for next season, meaning a freeze on the recruitment of new players and the offering of contracts to existing players whose deals run out at the end of this season.
Industrial action was seen as a legitimate step that could be taken by players if progress wasn't made on these issues.
Speculation that the England game, which is the biggest revenue generator for the WRU, could be called off intensified when Wales delayed announcing their team news for the game earlier this week.
The lack of clarity on the financial situation of the Welsh regions has angered players who are worried about what the future holds for them.
Last week, the Daily Mail published quotes from an unnamed Welsh player, who is described as a Six Nations squad member, saying: “I can’t believe I’m five months away from the end of my contract and eight months away from the World Cup and my future isn’t certain yet.
“I can’t apply for a mortgage and I’m on antidepressants. I’m also one big injury away from not having a job in July, yet I’m starting for Wales every week and the WRU is making tens of millions from international matches.”
In the past few days, extensive discussions between players and the WRU have taken place and today, both parties announced that this weekend's clash with England will go ahead.
Wales have lost their opening two games in this year's tournament, while England have picked up one win from their opening couple of matches.
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