Wallaby World Cup Match payments

[MrTimms]

From Iain Payten's Twitter

@iainpayten: ARU and RUPA announce Wallabies World Cup bonuses. $25k if they win a semi and another $85K if they win the final. Match fees trimmed to 10k

Performance based pay, Good idea?

 

[barbarian]

Meh. Its the same every RWC isn't it?

If our players are busting a gut to get to the RWC final because they pocket an extra 80 grand then I will be worried. Its a nice incentive but hopefully they don't speak about it too much.

 

[yourmatesam]

Absolutely. Always should be. 10k a game still sweet coin for representing your country (sweet coin for playing footy too). Easy money for the privilege.

 

[daz]

Easy money for the privilege.

I once told my front row son (who wouldn't tackle willingly) before a game that I would pay him $5 for every hit he made. He usually averaged 1 good tackle per game. The result? He came off the field $5 richer. The point of that little story is that I doubt Nick Phipps is looking at Sunday's test as a way to buy a new 3D HD TV. I think (or at least hope) that he is looking at Sunday's test to fulfill a life-long dream and take his career to the next level.

I think Mike Catt may have been quite happy to hand back his match fee and cry 'Uncle' when Jonah Lomu was thundering towards him. He didn't, not because he was thinking of the money, but because he had a job to do. Ok, he did it badly, but he still did it.

Same for the young and new Wobs when they have to hit 120kg's of Samoan muscle at speed.

A privilege for sure. Easy money? Not on your life....

 

[MrTimms]

Just for the record, I totally agree. Nice reward, but not the be all/end all.

 

[The_Brown_Hornet]

I tend to think that if you don't have the desire in you be a top line footballer (or any other sport for that matter) to begin with, then you probably aren't ever going to get to the position to be taking performance based bonuses. It's not like it's easy to be among a very select group of players to play in the Wallaby jersey and the training to get you to that point would finish off many lesser players.

That's a roundabout way of saying that the bonus won't be the be-all and end-all for the players. That little gold trophy will be.

 

[yourmatesam]

I doubt Nick Phipps is looking at Sunday's test as a way to buy a new 3D HD TV. I think (or at least hope) that he is looking at Sunday's test to fulfill a life-long dream and take his career to the next level.

No doubt. I hope Nick and the rest of the team are out there because they're keen as mustard to wear a gold jersey and give it their all.

Same for the young and new Wobs when they have to hit 120kg's of Samoan muscle at speed.

No different to the amateur's running around on a Saturday in clubland against West Harbour, the Griffith Blacks or Tuggeranong Vikings.

A privilege for sure. Easy money? Not on your life....

Given that the majority of rugby players in Australia play for the love of the game, I reckon it's easy money.

 

[RugbyReg]

ARU AND RUPA REACH AGREEMENT ON WORLD CUP INCENTIVES


Australian Rugby Union and the Rugby Union Players Association have today confirmed
a schedule of Rugby World Cup bonus incentives for the Qantas Wallabies.

Consistent with the practice for Rugby World Cup tournaments in the professional
era, the 2011 Qantas Wallabies squad will have the potential to earn a significant
per-player bonus if they capture the William Webb Ellis Cup in New Zealand.

Under the agreement, the Qantas Wallabies have agreed to accept a decrease in their
match payments due during the tournament in September-October in order to maximise
their prospective bonus for winning the tournament.

Match payments will be reduced from around $13,000 to a flat $10,000 for pool games
and $11,000 for knockout matches at the Rugby World Cup, but a bonus of $110,000
awaits each player if Australia becomes the first country in RWC history to claim
the title for a third time.

The Qantas Wallabies incentive scheme will be activated only if they win a
semi-final and qualify for the final.

At the 2007 Rugby World Cup, squad members were to receive a bonus if they advanced
past the quarter finals.

No bonus was paid when the squad fell to England and failed to reach the semi-finals.

In 2011, the Qantas Wallabies squad will be entitled to $25,000 per player should
they win a semi-final and reach the tournament decider in Auckland.

Players will be entitled to a further incentive bonus of $85,000 if they are crowned
Rugby World Cup champions.

"We believe this agreement gives the players an opportunity to be well and
deservedly rewarded if they achieve the ultimate and return from New Zealand as
Rugby World Cup champions," said ARU Managing Director and CEO John O'Neill.

"Winning the Rugby World Cup would have enormous flow on benefits for the game in
this country, so it is only fair the players have an opportunity to receive a
tangible benefit if they reach the highest achievement level our game offers.

"ARU also acknowledges that this exciting group of players is prepared to back
itself and reduce match payments to maximise their incentives should they win the
tournament."

RUPA CEO Greg Harris said: "The players and the ARU have acted in a most
co-operative and responsible manner in reaching this agreement on the commercial
side of the quest for the game's biggest prize.

"The players view themselves as partners in the development and growth of the game
and appreciate the impact that success at the Rugby World Cup will have on the
future of the sport in Australia.

"They have expressed both their confidence and their desire to be successful through
their commitment to this agreement.".

 

[Groucho]

Performance related pay works at the uppermost levels of business, which is at least as driven, and at least as rarefied, as top level sports. You might argue that business is driven by money, but in my experience there is just as much desire to succeed for its own sake at that level in business as there is in sports. Money is just one more driver that can be moderated to achieve the best result.