The RUPA response to "Wallabies sink tour trial for $2,500" SMH Article:
The RUPA responds to the inaccurate nature of the article published today by the Sydney Morning Herald entitled "Wallabies sink tour trial for $2,500". In that article it is claimed that a proposed Possible- Probable's [selection trial] match was postponed because of extraordinary pay demands from the Wallabies players.
The facts in this matter are as follows:
1. In or about August 2008 the ARU gave the rights to the NSWRU to host an Australia A match at the SFS;
2. In reliance on this the NSWRU sold from September 2008 as part of their membership package for 2009 an Australia A game;
3. In or about December 2008 the ARU withdrew from the Pacific Six nation tournament thus preventing the NSWRU from hosting the A game they had sold to members as part of their membership package;
4. In May 2009 the ARU first approached the RUPA to seek the player's view on match fee for a game at the SFS to prepare the players for the game against the All Blacks scheduled to take place three weeks in Tokyo and to use it for selection of some younger fringe players for the upcoming European tour;
5. Discussions between the RUPA and the ARU then proceeded on details surrounding the match. From those discussions it emerged the match would be billed as the Wallabies V Australian Barbarians played at the SFS on a Sunday afternoon so that the NSWRU could honour its commitments to its members who has purchased the membership packages with an Australia A fixture included;
6. Discussions also took place directly between the Wallaby player group and the ARU senior management in June and July over the subject;
7. In August the RUPA, on behalf of the Wallaby group, conveyed to the ARU that if the game proposed was to be played at the SFS to ensure the NSWRU fulfilled its obligations to its members and therefore generate revenue then it was only reasonable the players be paid the usual fee for a similar Australia A type match - $2,500. If on the other hand the purpose of the match was solely to be used in preparation for the All Blacks match and for fringe selection purposes then the Wallabies would of course be happy to play the game at a local suburban park without request for a match fee;
8. In August 2009 the ARU responded to the RUPA suggestion by advising the game was not now proceeding in the format proposed but instead that the players' preparation for the end of season tour would be altered to prepare them for the Tour in a different way;
9. The NSWRU has reimbursed its members for the Australia A game cancelled by the ARU last December.
The Sydney Morning Herald's article is factually incorrect in a number of ways:
1. The match under discussion wasn't simply about playing a trial - but about providing a substitute match for the NSWRU after the ARU cancelled their Australia A game last December;
2. The RUPA didn't demand a payment of $2,500 but suggested a fee of $2,500 in response to a question by the ARU as to whether the players expected a fee;
3. After suggesting the fee the ARU decided to scrap the game without further discussion;
4. The ARU did not in recent days cancel the proposed Wallaby V Australian Barbarian match. It was called off in August;
5. The only venue proposed by the ARU to the RUPA was the SFS - not North Sydney Oval.
Tony Dempsey Chief Executive Officer of the RUPA said:
"It is easy for someone to suggest there are cracks within the player framework. Worse still it is easy to infer the players are money focused. A more challenging, difficult and yet constructive task is to provide positive solutions to the Wallabies recent lack of form against the All Blacks.
It is not clear what source the SHM relies upon when writing an article of this nature. Equally puzzling is why clarity was not sought about the issue from the RUPA before publishing it.
The Wallaby players' themselves are generous both with their time and money when it comes to supporting charitable causes. Examples this year include donation of their first round Super match fees to the Victorian Bushfire Appeal and participation and support of numerous charities including but not limited to Cystic Fibrosis Australia, Starlight Foundation - various appearances, Blue September, Arthritis Australia - kids camps, Mission Australia - various programs, The Smith Family - various programs, The eMerge Foundation, Ovarian Cancer Australia, RSPCA, Cook Islands donation of books, Ronald McDonald House - various appearances, Xtrata Charity Rugby Day, Camp Quality - various, ActewAGL Country Visits, Red Cross Blood Donation, Cerebal Palsy, Breast Cancer - various, Movember, Pyjama Foundation, Red Kite, St Vincent de Paul - Youthreach/Matt Talbot, Retina Australia Foundation, It's Time Foundation, Patch (Canberra Hospital), Red Frogs, The Why Genera tion, POW Sydney Hospital, Humpty Dumpty Foundation, This is Oz run by Acan - anti discrimination, Eightytwenty Vision, Wallabies Rewards program - Values in Sport Forum & Junior clubs, National Aboriginal Sports Corporate Australia (NASCA), Prostate Cancer Foundation of Australia, Rugby CONNECT - womens rugby, disabled, indigenous and Culturally & Linguistically Diverse populations.
The players also spend numerous hours volunteering their time to help out at grass roots rugby functions and events.
In addition to assist Australian Rugby with the downturn in the general economy Wallaby players agreed earlier this year to take a Test match pay cut. Further, players from the Waratahs and Reds (including Wallabies from these two states) have agreed to forgo one week's leave without pay.
It is not the first time and dare we say the last that during a Wallaby form slump that it is suggested the players are either overpaid or money hungry. The reality is players are just as committed as ever in representing their country and take great pride in representing their country.
What is needed now in Australian rugby is a galvanizing of support for the Wallabies as they prepare for the November tour - not misinformed ill advised rhetoric about the attitude of players to money."
