Wales players ‘had to make a stand’ with strike threat, says captain Ken Owens

Every professional player in Wales rugby was invited to the summit gathering, which also included Welsh Rugby Players Association representation.

Wales captain Ken Owens (John Walton/PA)

Ken Owens believes that Wales’ players “had to make a stand” after a threat of player strike action was withdrawn and the go-ahead given to Saturday’s Guinness Six Nations clash against England.

Three days before the scheduled kick-off in Cardiff, contractual chaos still held centre-stage as more than 100 players gathered at Wales’ training base in the Vale of Glamorgan for a pivotal 80-minute meeting with Professional Rugby Board members.