Rugby: Six Nations sigh of relief as Wales-England to go ahead

CARDIFF – Wales playing England at home is one of the standout fixtures of the Six Nations, a fierce rivalry between neighbours that sees thousands fill Cardiff for a day of rugby, beer and cheer.

Past matches have created some of the most iconic moments in rugby history in both countries, a centuries-old ritual that has evoked high emotion since the initial game back in 1881.

The fact that this Saturday’s Wales-England clash nearly did not go ahead has left many in both countries astounded, with even Wales captain Ken Owens saying the country were the “laughing stock” of world rugby.

But a potential strike by Welsh players over contractual issues was averted just on Wednesday.

The Welsh Rugby Union (WRU) were left staring at massive losses had the game not gone ahead. An estimate of up to £9 million (S$14.5 million) lost by the WRU is more than doubled for the Welsh capital’s businesses on match day.

“I’m pleased to announce that after extensive conversations and discussions over the last week, the Wales-England game will go ahead as scheduled,” said Nigel Walker, the acting WRU chief executive officer.

All professional players in Wales were invited to a meeting to discuss issues with the Professional Rugby Board (PRB), which handles contractual issues, on Wednesday – a deadline set by Welsh players for progress on the matter.

Many of the players’ existing deals at the four Welsh regional sides expire at the end of the season.

A new financial agreement between the four Welsh regions – Cardiff, Dragons, Ospreys and Scarlets – and the WRU is set to be in place from next week.

And there was compromise on a number of issues, including reducing to 25 the controversial 60-cap minimum Test selection rule for players at clubs outside of Wales, guaranteed representation at PRB board meetings and the inclusion of a solely fixed contract alongside fixed-variable hybrid contracts (80 per cent in set wages, with 20 per cent as bonus payments).

“Everybody in Welsh rugby really needs to pull together now to find the best way forward and we need to do it collaboratively, to put Welsh rugby back at the top end of world rugby and not the laughing stock, which I think we are at the moment,” Owens said.

Welsh fans will now hope the players can put a troubled week behind them come Saturday at the Millennium Stadium.

Owens, while admitting that the dispute had been a “distraction”, vowed: “When we have crossed that white line at training, we’ve prepared well and done our work as professional players. We are ready for Saturday.

“We are looking forward to going toe-to-toe with England.” AFP