Australia's professional rugby players have returned to full pay after Wallabies match payments were slashed in the code's revised collective bargaining agreement.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
or signup to continue reading
Rugby Australia expects to save about $2.5 million after the Rugby Union Players Association agreed to make drastic cuts to Wallabies match payments as well as reduce squad sizes and nationally-contracted players.
Super Rugby players were subjected to 40 and then 30 per cent pay cuts as COVID-19 halted play last year but Wallabies players were still paid in full for last year's Tri-Nations, with RA-contracted players understood to collect about $10,000 per Test.
Test match payments will be roughly halved for the Wallabies this year, with cash funneled into the Wallaroos program and ensuring the country's Olympic-bound sevens outfits and all Super Rugby players are on full pay.
RUPA have also created for themselves a seat on any Rugby Australia group responsible for negotiating the future of Super Rugby under a new deal.
MORE SPORT
It comes as the ACT Brumbies' trial match against the Western Force is given the all clear after the ACT government lifted travel restrictions on those from the Perth metropolitan area, the Peel and south west regions of Western Australia.
Brumbies winger Andy Muirhead is relishing the chance to face the Force at Viking Park on Tuesday night, in a rehearsal for a Super Rugby AU season opener little more than a week later.
"[There are] definitely a lot of members in the squad who don't like training at all, so really looking forward to the season starting and a trial next week," Muirhead grinned.
"Everyone is so excited. We've been training hard for the past two months and the light at the end of the tunnel is finally here.
"Trial next week, and then two weeks after that, we're into the competition. The boys are really keen for that, the energy has really picked up over the past two weeks.
"It's an exciting year for a couple of blokes, obviously Lenny [Ikitau]. He was in that Wallabies squad at the end of last year but he hasn't really had too much exposure at a Super level.
"Everyone here knows how good he is and what he can do, so everyone is pretty keen to see him have a go at the trial next week and hopefully see him get selected at some point this season."
While Muirhead and Ikitau chase tickets to Perth for the Brumbies' season opener against the Force, those left behind will head to Albury to play a trial match against the Melbourne Rebels.
The Rebels have a round one bye and faced the prospect of launching their season without a trial match under their belts amid problems caused by the pandemic.
But the Brumbies Runners will come to their aid with a squad of Super Rugby fringe players and development players to face Melbourne at the Lavington Sports Ground on February 19.
Caden Helmers
Caden Helmers is a sports writer for The Canberra Times.
Caden Helmers is a sports writer for The Canberra Times.
