Wales’ four professional sides have agreed a new financial package ending the long-running contract dispute between players, regions and the governing body.
Last Updated: 31/03/23 8:20pm
Wales v Argentina – Autumn International – Principality Stadium A general view of Gilbert match balls before the Autumn International match at the Principality Stadium, Cardiff. Picture date: Saturday November 12, 2022.
Wales’ four professional sides – Cardiff Rugby, Dragons, Ospreys and Scarlets – have agreed a new six-year financial package with the WRU.
The deal is aimed at ending the contract dispute between players, regions and Welsh rugby’s governing body.
In a statement on Friday evening, the WRU identified the key features of the agreement:
Salary caps to be introduced from season 2023/24
Two kinds of contracts will be offered namely fixed contracts and those with both a fixed and variable element, where the variable element is linked to appearances and performances
All contracts will be held by a central clearing house to monitor spend, ensure contract compliance and effect a new player-loan system across clubs
Contracts for players of national interest will be agreed by the club and the WRU Performance Director
The clubs are committed to a minimum spend on player academies
All clubs are subject to regular audits of squad expenditures, contracts, business plans and academy performance
The clubs are committed to centralising aspects of their commercial operations, with work already in p …