English player pay row resolved

DISPUTE: Agreement has been reached in a pay dispute that threatened to undermine England’s tour of Australia and New Zealand next month.

The Rugby Football Union and Team England Rugby say they have “resolved all the outstanding tour issues” over player payments for the five-match trip, which begins in Perth on June 8.

The pay row is understood to have escalated after some of the squad stood to receive at least £10,000 a player more than their colleagues.

A basic tour fee of £7,800 is thought to have been offered, but the 22 players who feature against the Wallabies reportedly stood to receive an additional £5,000 per Test and a possible £1,500 win bonus.

It meant a player who featured in both Tests being guaranteed £17,800, even if England lose in Perth and Sydney.