The Bath Rugby club captain Charlie Ewels has slammed reports suggesting the club’s players are set to revolt.
The 24-year-old England lock has strongly denied a report they are going to reject a 25% pay cut. Like many other English rugby clubs, Bath has taken this step due to financial pressures caused by the coronavirus pandemic.
Earlier this week, Bath’s CEO Tarquin McDonald announced that the club had asked players and staff to take a 25 per cent cut in line with with several other Premiership sides.
Sunday’s edition of The Rugby Paper then suggested that Bath players were planning to reject the request, but Ewels was quick deny it.
Rugby Paper report “not true”
In an open letter to the Bath supporters, he wrote: “You might have seen the front page of The Rugby Paper today.
“Given what we are all experiencing at this time, it would be fair if you felt a sense of disbelief or even disgrace at the headline.”
It read ‘Bath stars revolt over pay cuts’.
“As captain of our club, I can categorically say that these reports are not true. As a playing group, we are not in revolt against our club.
“In fact, it’s quite the opposite. We wish to work with the club through this extremely challenging time so we can get back to where we all want to be; playing rugby at the Rec again.
“Everyone at Bath Rugby is committed to working through this together. The players within the squad that I am fortunate enough to serve as captain are no different.
No money coming in, no pay
“We play rugby for a living and we understand that if we are not playing games, then there is no money coming in. It is a difficult time for everyone however we are all on this journey together.
“We as players understand everything happening across the globe is having a huge impact which is reaching far beyond us.
“I can say that 100 per cent support the principle of the pay cuts, as do the majority of players at the club. They believe it is the right thing to do if we are going to guide the club through this tough period.
“Like players at all other clubs, we have been guided by the advice of our union, the RPA. We are seeking answers to some specific questions regarding players on lower salaries and players coming to the end of their contracts.
“However, we are discussing these questions openly and transparently with Stuart (Hooper, director of rugby) and Tarquin (McDonald). I know we will find the right answers in due course.
“We will do what is right for the future of our people, our club and our game.”
NOTE: Though still 24, the 6ft 6in, 247lb Ewels has already represented Bath 65 times and England 15 times.
Tough times for Rugby Australia
Another example of the financial strife the coronavirus pandemic is causing for rugby has become evident ‘Down Under’.
Rugby Australia (RA) reported at its annual general meeting today (Monday) that it had a provisional deficit of 9.4 million Australian dollars in 2019. The meeting was held via a video conference.
The RA said it was expected that it would operate at a loss ahead of the Rugby World Cup year due to increased expenses and fewer domestic Test matches. The Israel Folau settlement had helped further increase expenses, though not by as much as had been reported.
RA chief executive Raelene Castle has labeled reports that Folau was paid eight million AUD after his sacking as “wildly inaccurate”.
The AUS4.5m loss in could have been taken care off in normal times, but coming when the coronavirus is sweeping the globe, has clearly upset the Aussie applecart.
“These are unprecedented and extremely uncertain times for our world, RA chairman Paul McLean said in a statement.
“To put it simply, there is no way of knowing what damage this crisis will have on our game, or for how long it will continue to impact us.
“It has forced us to make some extremely difficult decisions, and there will be even harder decisions to come as we continue to navigate the implications of the virus on the game’s finances.
.@RugbyAU has today held its 2019 Annual General Meetinghttps://t.co/VthaHoLiJv
— Rugby Australia (@RugbyAU) March 30, 2020