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'No assurances': Australian players continue to remain in the dark over COVID-19 financial situation
By Online Editors
Australia's Super Rugby clubs plan to lean on emergency JobKeeper funding as the code braces for a three-month survival period and its players remain in the dark on their financial situation.
Rugby Australia will stand down 75 percent of its staff from Wednesday until May 1 as it braces for a potential $120 million COVID-19 hit.
The players' union met with RA on Tuesday but was again left wanting more, representative Justin Harrison saying financial details requested three weeks ago were yet to be seen.
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"Although RA provided no assurances, RUPA looks forward to the opportunity to assess that information in the near future," Harrison said.
They are prepared to take a hit similar to RA chief executive Raelene Castle's 50 percent salary sacrifice, while about 100 RA staff and those at Australia's four Super Rugby clubs also faced uncertain times.
The NSW Waratahs will reportedly stand down 70 percent of their staff, while the Melbourne Rebels will either stand down or reduce the hours of all their employees.
The Brumbies and Queensland Reds hope to action the $750 per week government JobKeeper scheme announced on Monday to keep all staff on in a part-time capacity, or full-time at a reduced rate.
RA staff are likely to be eligible for the same payment, while they will all return to work if Super Rugby fixtures and July's Test program against Ireland and Fiji are given the green light.
"The JobKeeper program ... that's given us the ability to keep, at this point, everyone in a job," Queensland Rugby Union chief executive David Hanham said.
"What I've heard from our passionate staff today is that they want to work and serve rugby and assist the QRU through this global crisis.
"We've been in existence for 138 years, we're not going anywhere.
"But I do think as a code, once we pop our head out of this storm, we have a good opportunity to look at what reform and innovation we need to make our sport smarter, stronger, more aligned and more effective."
Hanham forecast a loss in revenue of about $15 million for the Reds in the next six-to-eight months.
- AAP
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Latest Comments
There is a major story unfolding around Gleeson's bar in Booterstown, South Dublin City last night. Beaudy Barrett, DMac and Cody Taylor were there. DMac was supposed to be on the Guinness 0.0 but lets just say it didn't turn out that way.
Hours later, Dmac out cold, head on the table with a long stallagtite of flem and spittle rising and falling with his breathing. There is a video apparently.
The barman barred a staggering Taylor from any more Guinness but Taylor kept pushing past him, pulled a seat up to the Guinness tap and personally pulled himself pints, claiming it was 'celebrity pint pulls mate'.
One of these celebrity pint pulls made a local paper but it's only a matter of time before the real context comes out. Dmac is out of the team for Friday due to breaking 'internal standards', Sititi starting at 10.
Go to commentsNow that made me laugh bull!
I tell you what though, the head knock from Kriel on Hugh jones in the wc that didn’t result in any card was a real mystery with the way things are now.
Also suspect the Boks will be pretty well motivated by glasgows antics in stellenbosch last week and loftus in June…
Should be a cracker hopefully!
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