Jonathan Davies has vented his frustration at the latest “shambolic” episode in Welsh rugby which threatens the Wales-England Six Nations clash.
The Dragons legend is booked for commentary duty in Cardiff but the fixture has been plunged into doubt by the financial crisis engulfing the game in the Principality. The delay in the Welsh Rugby Union agreeing a new budget with the country’s four regions has left players, out of contract this summer, unable to sign new deals and fearing for the future.
It has reached a point that a meeting has been called at which a strike, which could affect the Anglo-Welsh clash, will be discussed.
“There are players out of contract at the end of the season who have bills to pay on mortgages, utilities and cars,” said Davies. “Those payments don’t stop. The worry must be huge.
“They are providers for their family and when you don’t know where your next pay cheque is coming from, post May, it is a situation you have to take extremely seriously.
“It should never have come to this but given we are where we are I can see why the players are considering this. Their livelihoods are at stake. I understand where they are coming from.”
England are refusing to consider anything other than a fierce battle, in the rich tradition of the fixture, at the Principality Stadium on Saturday week.
Forwards coach Richard Cockerill said: “If anything it will probably galvanise them because, in my experience, any hardship with a playing group generally brings them tighter together.
“England have always found it difficult in Cardiff so we are preparing and getting our minds purely around that. What Wales are doing with their players is not really our concern.”
The likelihood is that the threat of industrial action will be enough to advance discussions sufficiently to at least get the game played. But who would have imagined nurses and ambulance workers walking out?
“Name me another “business” where the “employees” are treated this way,” tweeted All Blacks legend. Sonny Bill Williams. “First NRL, now the footy players up north are starting to stand up for their rights!
“Just curious: what’s the salary cap for board members and suits?? Time to start championing the player over the organisation. If you stand for nothing you will fall for anything.”
This latest chapter in Welsh rugby comes hard on the heels of allegations of sexism, discrimination and a “toxic” culture levelled against the WRU which led to the resignation of chief executive Steve Phillips
“This is a massive opportunity to reform, for everyone to sit down and hopefully build a relationship,” said Davies. “Surely it can’t be that hard to find some mutual respect for the best of Welsh rugby.
“At the very least there should be better communication. How can players be expected to perform at their best when ultimately they’re thinking of what could happen.”
