Rugby Union: Michael Hooper to lose $70,000 a month in pay-cut deal

Wallabies skipper Michael Hooper stands to lose around $70,000 a month under the terms of the drawn out pay-cut agreement.

Michael Hooper, Australia’s highest-paid rugby player, will lose two-thirds of his salary.

Wallabies skipper Michael Hooper stands to lose around $70,000 a month under the terms of the drawn out pay-cut agreement between Rugby Australia and the Rugby Union Players’ Association.

Expected to be ratified this week, possibly as early as Monday, Australia’s 192 professional players will receive an average salary reduction of 60 per cent over the next six months.

That will wipe $9.5m off the players’ total payments through to September, with the code’s biggest stars taking the heaviest hits to save the game from going broke.

Hooper, Australia’s highest-paid player, will have to give up more than two-thirds of his monthly salary, but will still receive just over $34,000 a month, including payments under the JobKeeper scheme.

All players making $95,000 or less a year will receive the monthly JobKeeper payment of $3250 – which amounts to a maximum cut of 40 per cent.

Players earning above that figure will receive a combined payment from JobKeeper and RA, with the size of the cut increasing the more the player makes. All players making more than $300,000 a season will lose at least 65 per cent of their income, until September 30.

RUPA has been openly critical of RA’s reluctance to disclose the full nature of its financial woes so has pushed hard to lock in key clauses to protect players.

This includes RA providing RUPA with monthly updates of its financial position and allowing RUPA to be involved in any talks regarding the restructuring of SANZAAR competitions and any tournaments in Australia.

In addition, if the current travel and social distancing restrictions are lifted before then and matches resume, the pay-cut arrangements will be reviewed.

And if RA runs out of money and goes into voluntary administration or receivership, the agreement on cuts will be immediately terminated with players to receive their full contract payouts.

Furthermore, players will be allowed to undertake additional employment to support their families during the lockdown including signing short-term overseas contracts from 2021 through to the next World Cup in 2023, as long as they meet certain requirements.

Further talks will also take place about the future of Australia’s Sevens players.

THE DAILY TELEGRAPH