Fans back Wales stars over strike threat in contract dispute
‘Striking for the England game is the ultimate bargaining chip… and it may have to happen to force change’: Fans ‘100 per cent’ behind Wales stars in contract dispute even if Saturday’s Six Nations clash is called off
- Warren Gatland delayed his team announcement on Tuesday morning
- The decision was made amid an ongoing dispute over player contracts
- Players have set a deadline of Wednesday for the issues to be resolved
Fans have voiced their support for Wales stars in their dispute with Welsh rugby chiefs over contracts.
Wales’ Six Nations players are still threatening to strike for the England game due to the fact the WRU and its four regions have yet to officially sign a new six-year funding agreement.
The result of that has been contractual uncertainty for those players in Wales whose deals are expiring at the end of the season.
Warren Gatland was forced to cancel his planned team announcement for Saturday’s crunch Six Nations with England at the 11th hour on Tuesday – leaving the game in serious doubt.
And fans said they were ‘100 per cent behind’ the players.
Wales coach Warren Gatland can’t guarantee his side will play England on Saturday
Gatland is hopeful that a resolution will be reached to stop players going on strike
Peter Gray, 33, is a Cardiff and Wales fan currently living and studying in Berlin.
He said: ‘I keep a keen eye on rugby in Wales and feel this crisis has probably been brewing since at least 2015 although most would argue it’s been going on a lot longer than that!
‘Now everything is coming to a head, primarily through the incompetence of the Welsh Rugby Union. I do have the feeling they are not negotiating with the regions in good faith and probably would like them to fail.
‘The comments on Scrum V by professional rugby board chair Malcom Wall when he was asked by Josh Turnbull what the plan is to make regional rugby a success in the future were unacceptable. He basically admitted the plan is to keep the regions’ heads above water.
‘If I was in a similar situation with an employer to the players where my job security isn’t guaranteed in the future, then I would be on strike myself so I am 100 per cent behind them. I can’t understand why Welsh rugby goes from crisis to crisis.
‘I was 13 when regional rugby began. I am now 33 so it’s a big frustration the same skeletons keep on being dug up. Until a strong plan to support the game within Wales is produced that means we are winning in Europe, then I can see me being asked for my thoughts again when I’m 40!’
Gareth Harris, 59, is a big Scarlets fan who travelled to watch Wales at the 2019 World Cup in Japan.
He said: ‘I do support the players in their actions and if it comes to it, a strike. They’ve been treated poorly for too long. The WRU has had plenty of time to resolve this and they haven’t helped the professional teams either. Sadly, the crisis has been some years in the making.’
Ricky Harries, 37, is a Scarlets season ticket holder from Llanelli and Wales fan.
He said: ‘I’m just gutted by the current situation. No-one wins. This is supposed to be professional rugby and the way it is being run is anything but. As a Scarlets fan and season ticket holder, the threat of us losing our best players because of the failure of the Welsh Rugby Union and the regions to come to an agreement is just awful.
Wales players are still considering strike action ahead of their Six Nations clash with England
‘It’s getting me worked up to be honest because I’m a big Welsh rugby fan.
‘The stuff I’m hearing is just embarrassing. It’s a horror story. I would 100 per cent support the players if they chose to strike. I know he’s not in the national squad but Jack Dixon’s comments about how the uncertainty is affecting the players and the risk of injury really hit home. They are rugby players and privileged to be so but it’s also their livelihood at the end of the day.
‘Striking for the England game would hit the WRU hard and it’s perfect timing for the players to play the ultimate bargaining chip. I still hope a strike can be avoided because the financial penalty of the England game being called off will be huge.
‘But if that’s what’s required to force change, then that’s what might have to happen.’
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