Aussie players and officials agree to pay cuts

WALLABIES players agreed to take pay cuts yesterday but only after assurances that boss John O’Neill and Australian Rugby Union (ARU) brass had their pay packets and travel perks slashed.

As part of moves to safeguard rugby against the deepening financial crisis, Wallaby stars accepted an AUS$873 (€439) cut to Test match payments in 2009 — totalling as much as $12,220 (€6,150) for top players.

But as part of the deal, players were told the pain would be shared across the entire ARU, including cuts to salaries and expensive travel for O’Neill and the ARU blazer brigade.

O’Neill took a voluntary pay cut on his wage of $900,000-plus (€453,000 plus) late last year.

And with a tough financial year ahead, widespread ARU cost-cutting was already under way and the player pay cuts were rubber-stamped yesterday.

O’Neill is poised to announce in March that the ARU’s books are back in the black only a year after an $8m (€4m) loss, but the loss of several big sponsors and expected downturn in revenue has prompted serious belt-tightening.

After negotiation between the ARU and the Rugby Union Players Association (RUPA), the Wallabies players will forgo a rise in Test match fees to $12,373 (€6,236) and take $11,500 (€5,796) a game in 2009 only.

This will save the ARU more than $500,000 (€252,000) along with significant savings from the axing of the Australia A program and the Rugby Shield.

Crucially for players, the ARU also came to the table. All salaries have been cut, board members’ fees slashed, senior staffers moved on and all bonuses and staff levels frozen.

There are grass-root feelings plenty of money could be saved by cutting down on corporate largesse by ARU brass and this too will be addressed.

In his autobiography, O’Neill addressed similar issues from the 2003 World Cup, where he was subject to “snide whispers” for using hire cars and staying in hotel suites. “It was such petty nonsense,” O’Neill wrote.

“That luxury was . . . valid. I would use the extra rooms as an office. I was working constantly on the go, and far less likely to stick my snout in the food and drink trough compared to others holding high ARU positions.”

Wallabies captain Stirling Mortlock yesterday applauded the players for volunteering for a pay cut.

“I think it is a real positive, proactive step by RUPA. The global financial crisis is touching everyone, and we’re certainly not shielded from it,” Mortlock said.