0
There are always two sides to a story however, on the surface, it sounds like the Sevens Players may be getting a bit big for their britches!
Personally I think that the Sevens programme should be elivated to between Australia A and Super14 status as a vital development tool for backs and loose forwards rather than being a semi-pro (sporting) political nightmare.
Hopefully we can sort it out so the current crop who played at Melbourne Com Games etc can continue their develoment towards a Pro Contract.
Glen Ella to pick new Sevens team after ambit claim from RUPA
November 22, 2006 - 6:27pm
Story by: ARU
Nineteen players from the Australian Sevens training squad have knocked back the opportunity to play for Australia at the upcoming Dubai Sevens (1-2 December) unless the ARU agrees to their last-minute demands for a 133% increase in match payments.
A 22-man squad has been preparing for the 2006-07 IRB World Sevens Series under Coach Glen Ella for the past two months.
However, less than a week before flying out to the first tournament, the ARU has received an ultimatum from the Rugby Union Players Association (RUPA) demanding an increase in player payments from $1,500 to $3,500 per tournament.
The ARU has rejected the ambit claim, and told RUPA and the players that if they are not willing to represent Australia on the international stage, it will select players who are.
ARU CEO and Managing Director Gary Flowers said RUPA's demands had cost the young players the chance to wear the gold jersey and push their claims for a Super 14 contract in the future.
"These players have been training with Glen Ella for two months and have been fully aware of the fact that they will each get paid $3,000 to play in Dubai and George over two weekends.
"Now, less than a week before they are due to fly, we get this ambit claim from RUPA. It is disappointing that RUPA is putting such pressure on these young players.
"The ARU's annual budget for the entire Australian Sevens program is around $550,000 which includes player payments, travel, accommodation, coaching staff, playing kit and insurance. Of this $144,000 is allocated for player payments.
"Agreeing to their demands would decimate the budget, and would simply mean we would have to strip the money out of another development program like the Australian Under 19s or Under 21s. We are simply not prepared to do that.
"The Sevens program is a stepping stone for these players, not a full-time job. It is just disappointing that RUPA has convinced them to put dollars before representative honours and the chance to earn a potentially lucrative professional contract.
"We have always sought to negotiate fairly and openly with RUPA. We have always operated in good faith and we have always negotiated mutually acceptable outcomes with them.
"Unfortunately they have responded with aggressive and unreasonable tactics which may have cost these young men a chance to represent Australia and travel the world."
Australian coach Glen Ella is currently selecting a new Australian team to ensure Australia is represented at the opening tournament in Dubai.
"Players such as Matt Giteau, Drew Mitchell, Peter Hynes and Stephen Hoiles have all used Sevens to further their career," Ella said.
"It is a sad day for the guys left behind. They have really blown a chance to take the next step up.
"I have played and coached plenty of tournaments around the world and have seen a lot of players use Sevens as a stepping-stone to a full-time contract in a Super 14 team.
"While contracted players haven't been regularly available for Sevens for several years, it has given young and upcoming players the chance to expose their skills to Super 14 coaches and in some cases pick up a Super 14 contract.
"These guys get to travel the world, experience the camaraderie at a great international event, and wear the gold Australian jersey.
"There are plenty of guys who would give their left arm to get paid to travel around the world to play Sevens Rugby for Australia."