Charvis makes a stand

The Welsh Rugby Union are embroiled in a row with national team captain Colin Charvis which has prompted his refusal to conduct media interviews.

It means that unless he can be persuaded otherwise, the recently-signed Newcastle player will not appear at the post-match press conference following Saturday’s clash between Wales and Argentina at Tucuman or at subsequent Tests in Buenos Aires and against South Africa in Pretoria on June 26.

Charvis’ absence from midweek media commitments was understandable as all attention was focused on veteran second-row forward Gareth Llewellyn, who makes his 88th Wales appearance.

The player’s latest dispute with the WRU stems back to his departure from French second division club Tarbes.

That contract was ended a month early so Charvis could join Wales’ pre-tour training camp.

But the WRU have so far refused the 2001 Lion’s requests for compensation for his month’s lost club wages and other issues have since prompted Charvis to refuse to conduct any Wales-related media interviews.

Captaincy has meant an annual £10,000 (€15,000) bonus for past incumbents.

But following a WRU review, each player in the squad receives £1,000 (€1,500) for meeting media commitments.

That has prompted Charvis to take his stance in the belief that the added commitments that go with the captaincy warrant extra pay.

Charvis has referred the media to WRU general manager Steve Lewis, who joined the tour party in midweek and whose relationship with the players generally is very frosty.

Charvis’ Swansea-based agent, Peter Underhill, said, “I can confirm that the Wales players are being paid £1,000 over and above their contracts to meet media commitments.

“That was the deal as told to me by the Wales management.”

Lewis’ popularity with the Wales players suffered following the demise of Celtic Warriors and the WRU’s actions when the region went from Heineken Cup qualifiers to extinction in a matter of days.

Several players covered their WRU logos and wore black armbands when beating the Barbarians 42-0 at Ashton Gate last month and this latest rift with such a senior player has further harmed relationships between squad members and the governing body.