Pay demands didn't wreck Wallaby trial
Tue, 22 Sep 2009 11:41
Australia's Rugby Union Players Association (RUPA) has quashed reports suggesting that a Wallabies trial match was called off because of extraordinary pay demands from the players.
According to the Sydney Morning Herald, RUPA demanded that the Australian Rugby Union pay each player AU$ 2 500 to appear in the trial match. The Wallabies' demands - which would have involved the 44 players selected for a trial match proposed for next month - would have meant the ARU footing an extra $110,000 bill.
The newspaper also reported that ARU officials and Wallabies coach Robbie Deans were deeply disappointed when confronted by the demand from RUPA as they assumed the players would naturally want to play in the game as a way of confirming their selection in the historic grand slam tour.
However, RUPA said that due to the fact the Wallabies trial match was due to replace the cancelled Australia A fixture at Sydney Football Stadium it was only reasonable the players be paid the usual fee for a similar Australia A type match - $2,500 as the NSWRU would then be able to fulfil its obligations to its members and therefore generate revenue.
If on the other hand the purpose of the match was solely to be used in preparation for the All Blacks match in Tokyo and for fringe selection purposes then the Wallabies would of course be happy to play the game at a local suburban park without request for a match fee.
RUPA Chief Executive Officer Tony Dempsey said the trial match was not called off due to the players' pay demands but instead
"It is easy for someone to suggest there are cracks within the player framework. Worse still it is easy to infer the players are money focused,"
"A more challenging, difficult and yet constructive task is to provide positive solutions to the Wallabies recent lack of form against the All Blacks."
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