Ireland's rugby players earning more than €25,000 per year will take a 10% pay cut while deferring another 10% until January 2021 at the earliest after the IRFU and Rugby Players Ireland finally reached agreement after almost a month of talks on pay tonight. Read MoreThe players were put on a pay deferral scheme in March with the rest of the IRFU staff, but that came to an end at the end of this month and non-playing staff were put on a four-day week. The IRFU, the Provinces and Clubs remain in a highly precarious financial situation, making it critically important that an agreement was reached on this matter." Rugby Players Ireland CEO, Simon Keogh, added:"Aware of the significant challenges facing not just rugby but the country as a whole as a result of the Covid-19 pandemic, we believe the agreement reached is reflective of our shared ambition to see rugby at all levels continue to thrive. The players have already returned to work and are focused on preparing for the much-anticipated return to competitive rugby in August."

Source: Irish Independent July 13, 2020 19:26 UTC