With no rugby being contested across the world the sport is in a financial crisis and it is understandable that the governing body is has decided to make the tough call in order to protect the livelihoods of all involved as best as they can.

The top scale of the pay cuts will be up for 43% of the player’s wages, and this with no doubt put a strain on their standard of living. It will be even harder for the players who have other business interests or who have spouses that own their own businesses.

A player who earns less than R240 000 a year is safe from salary cut for now. From R240 001 to R750 000 the players will see a 36% cut in salaries, and this will go up to 39% for those earning between R750 001 and R1 500 000 a year. From R1 500 00 and more there will be a cut of 43%.

SA Rugby has thrown somewhat of a lifeline to players at all unions across South Africa by giving them a three-week window in which they can seek other playing opportunities abroad.

The players may only look to seek employment overseas and no locally.

A player in South Africa who wishes to remain anonymous told OFM Sport that this will put a lot of pressure on them, and they could face the possibility of having salaries cut until the end of the year.

“The top scale of the pay cut is going to be 43% and that will probably be until the end of August. If there is no rugby for the rest of the year the pay cuts will be until the 31st of December.

“It is a difficult time now because we have to take up to a 43% pay cut just to be able to survive this thing.

“We have been giving three weeks to find another job overseas, but we are only allowed to move overseas and not locally.

“This will go for all the unions. This comes from SA Rugby and MyPlayers is running it as well.

“We have three weeks to leave if we find another job overseas, but I don’t know what the market abroad looks like at this point in time. So, we are definitely in for difficult times now.”

SA Rugby announced that they are still planning to run various tournaments this year in order to ensure the survival of the sport in South Africa. These tournaments include a local franchise and union competition planned for June to August as an alternative to the Super Rugby and PRO14, as well as, the Currie Cup Premier and First Divisions, and the SuperSport Rugby Challenge.

@MorganPiek OFM Sport