Australian rugby has been thrown into turmoil with the news that Aussie players are threatening to strike, on the eve of the new Super Rugby competition. With kick-off nine days away, Rugby Australia (RA) is in talks with the Rugby Union Players Association (RUPA) over a proposed 40% salary cut to the players for the remainder of 2020. RUPA representatives have been angered by the proposed cuts, pointing out that the RA executive team have only taken on a 5% wage cut.

The players are standing firm and a strike has the potential to cripple rugby after the code posted a $6.5 million deficit over the last 12 months. A strike potentially would eat up the goodwill generated from the Fox broadcast agreement for the new competition. Fox have agreed in principle to a short-term broadcast deal for the remainder of the 2020 season.

Any strike action from the players would cripple the code financially as they continue to play catch-up with the NRL and AFL in the Australian market.

The recent spike in COVID-19 cases in Victoria have forced Rugby Australia to relocate the Melbourne Rebels to Canberra, nine-days out from the Super Rugby opening game. The move has forced the players to question the need for further salary cuts moving forward into the season.