Warren Gatland confident Wales' game against England will go ahead

Wales head coach Warren Gatland expressed confidence that the upcoming round Six Nations game against England will go ahead as per the schedule despite threats of player strikes looming.

The Welsh Rugby Players Association and the Professional Rugby Board are in dispute over a proposed six-year funding arrangement that would mean reduction in wages and a new bonus structure.

The players have demanded also to remove the 60-cap rule which is the criteria for players plying trade overseas to be picked for national duty with a Wednesday deadline given to the union.

Despite the threat from players, Gatland, who recently took over the head coach role from Wayne Pivac is expecting the upcoming game to happen.

“I expect the game is going to be played. I have seen these sort of things happen in the past and I am confident the game will go ahead,” Gatland said.

“The boys have been great in training. I have just got to put all that sort of stuff aside and make sure that we focus on the game.

“It hasn’t been the easiest few weeks, but sometimes that focuses the mind and gives you the resolve to focus on the job at hand, and that is preparing the team the best way we possibly can as a group as coaches for next week.”

Gatland also said he agrees with the players on the scrapping of 60-cap rule but stressed that the focus should be on the upcoming World Cup scheduled later in the year.

“I am not sure it is fit for purpose at the moment. There is an opportunity under the current situation to say let’s potentially get rid of it.

“That needs to be negotiated for post-World Cup if it is beneficial, going forward. Get in a room and discuss it, but not for months and months.

“What is the best thing? I can see it working for four regions, but I can’t see it working if we end up with three or two regions because it doesn’t make sense to me to not have players potentially outside of Wales available.”