Irish players agree to reduction and deferral of wages

Irish players earning more than 25,000 euros (£22,594) per year have agreed to a 10 per cent salary reduction for the second half of 2020 as well as a 10 per cent deferral of their wages until 2021.

The Irish Rugby Football Union (IRFU) and Rugby Players Ireland (RPI) have been in talks for several weeks about pay and an agreement has finally been reached.

The period will run from July 1 to December 31 this year, and five per cent of the deferment will be subject to a retrospective salary reduction pending the ongoing impact of the coronavirus pandemic.

IRFU chief executive Philip Browne said: “Irish Rugby, like all sports organisations, businesses and society in general, has been severely impacted by the ongoing Covid-19 crisis with major uncertainty continuing around our future financial income streams.

“The IRFU, the provinces and clubs remain in a highly precarious financial situation, making it critically important that an agreement was reached on this matter.”

Simon Keogh, chief executive of the RPI, added: “Aware of the significant challenges facing not just rugby but the country as a whole as a result of the Covid-19 pandemic, we believe the agreement reached is reflective of our shared ambition to see rugby at all levels continue to thrive.”