PRPA unhappy with RFU proposal
by Mark Doyle, 15 May 2008
The chairman of the Professional Rugby Players' Association, David Barnes, has lashed out at the Rugby Football Union’s plans to introduce performance-related contracts for England’s top players.
The RFU has reportedly offered to pay its leading internationals a flat rate of approximately 65,000 per annum, with the rest of the salary dependent upon win bonuses.
However, Barnes is completely against the implementation of such a proposal and admitted that agreement on the new four-year deals – set to come into effect in July – remains a long way off.
"There is a bit of a problem at the moment - not exclusively about money," the PRPA chief told the Daily Telegraph.
"The major bone of contention is win bonuses on a match-by-match basis. In a team game in which anything can happen and the team can play very well and lose, we believe that to be unfair.
"I don't believe England players are frightened of the concept of an end-of-tournament bonus being paid on top of a fair and negotiated match fee calculated on their finishing position in the 6 Nations and World Cup."