Warren Gatland is confident Wales’ clash with England on Saturday will go ahead and hopes the dispute between his players and the WRU will be resolved on Tuesday. Wales’ players have threatened to go on strike over a contract dispute, placing the Guinness Six Nations showdown in Cardiff in doubt. When asked if he was confident it would go ahead, Gatland said: “Absolutely, yeah.
“I’m hearing positive things from both sides. I’m confident that with the discussions taking place that it will get resolved today. There have been half a dozen meetings over the last few days or so.”
Gatland postponed Wales’ team announcement – which was due at lunchtime on Tuesday – until Thursday because of the stand-off. When asked if he had been given assurances the round three match at the Principality Stadium would take place, Gatland replied: “Not at the moment.”
Wales summon historic press conference amid talk of players striking during Six Nations
Talks between negotiators of a new six-year financial agreement – the professional rugby board – and Welsh professional players had been due to take place on Wednesday. The players want Wales’ minimum 60-cap selection rule for those plying their trade outside the country to be scrapped, a voice at PRB meetings, and a review of proposed fixed-variable contracts.
Those contracts would guarantee a player only 80 per cent of their salary, with the remaining 20 per cent comprising bonuses, and is the players’ major grievance. No long-form agreement between the WRU and Wales’ four professional regions – Cardiff, Dragons, Ospreys and Scarlets – has yet been agreed in writing, meaning players whose contracts expire at the end of this season currently cannot be offered new deals.
Gatland insisted that the dispute could provide additional motivation as Wales look to claim their first win of the Six Nations after suffering comprehensive defeats in their opening two fixtures against Ireland and Scotland. It is the first time in 16 years that Wales have lost their first two championship games, while three defeats from the start last happened during their 2003 Six Nations campaign under head coach Steve Hansen.
“Hopefully everyone will turn up on Thursday raring to go on Saturday. It’s been a bit of a challenge but sometimes that galvanises people and brings them together,” he said. “In fairness to the players, at training this morning they put their training heads on and trained well. We had a good week last week in terms of working the players incredibly hard and they responded well to that.
“There are big things going on, we are aware of that, but we are pleased with how they have trained. Discussions are taking place today and hopefully, the players will be happy with the outcome. Things will hopefully get resolved today and we can just focus on the game on Saturday.”
