Rugby Australia chief executive Raelene Castle takes additional pay cut

Rugby Australia chief executive Raelene Castle has agreed to take an additional 15 per cent salary cut to help the board overcome the financial instability caused following the outbreak of the coronavirus.

The RA boss already had taken a 50 per cent cut in the salary but now with an additional reduction Castle will draw an amount of $297,000.

Castle also hoped that the additional salary cut will help the meeting between RA and the Rugby Union Players' Association in the Australian board's effort to convince the players to take a cut in wages with most of the 2020 season hampered due to the pandemic coronavirus.

"We've been head down concentrating on trying to find a plan that protects the long term viability of the game, looking under every rock to try to save every penny we can to make sure the game is on a stable footing for the long term," Castle told the Sydney Morning Herald.

"Off the back of that I've decided to take an additional 15 per cent that will take my pay cut to 65 per cent.

"Overnight 80 per cent of the game's revenue was turned off and, at the time, taking a 50 per cent pay cut was the best thing I felt I could do to lead in this unprecedented situation. After another few weeks of work, the right number is 65 per cent.

"It's the right thing to do. I have made that decision and recommended it to the board because we're facing really tough times and have to make these calls. Like everyone through the game that's had to stand down and make difficult decisions, I'm no different."