Michael Cheika urges Rugby Australia to be more transparent
Michael Cheika coached Australia between 2014 and 2019
©PA
Farmer Wallabies head coach Michael Cheika has urged Rugby Australia to make effective communication with Rugby Union Players Association following the potential pay cut announced.
The statement from Cheika comes after Raelene Castle responded to criticism on why the Australian board hasn't shared all the financial details with the RUPA after the Super Rugby season was cancelled followed the pandemic coronavirus.
Cheika, who coached Australia between 2014 and 2019 urged Rugby Australia to show strong leadership in these difficult times.
“It’s a difficult situation to be in, number one,” Cheika told Fox Sports.
“There’s not really a handbook or a playbook. I think some of the principles around general leadership are really important.
“In a time of crisis, transparency and communication are extremely important. This is where, from what I’ve heard from different players who I’ve spoken to, they’re not getting that.
“Other codes have laid their cards on the table. Some of them have copped a bit of a panning for it … at least there is a certain amount of transparency and I’m pretty sure that the players, when it comes to the discussion around pay cuts, with that information, they all know they’ve got to toe the line.”
Earlier, Castle said she is taking a 50 per cent pay cut that came after NRL CEO Todd Greenberg announced that he would take a similar cut in pay as the players and Cheika wanted all the sporting boards across the country to be transparent.
"One thing across the board that has been surprising - I'm not just saying this in rugby – is across the board about the tiering of wage cuts," Cheika said.
"I think in leadership you've got to give a direction and align people behind you. It's pretty difficult when you say I'm going to take 60 per cent, they're taking 30 and you chaps are getting nothing. All in it together means we're all in it together.
"If there's more transparency then everyone says, 'OK, yeah, we have got a problem and we all have to fix it' because it's important to do it. You can't deny it and there's no hidden measures."
