• Wales’ professional rugby team was called to a meeting.
• The players want minimum 60-cap requirement for selection.
• Wales legend Jonathan Davies criticised the WRU’s behaviour.

Wales’ whole professional rugby team was called to a crucial meeting on Wednesday in preparation for a potential strike that might jeopardise this weekend’s Six Nations match against England.

If Saturday’s match at the sold-out Principality Stadium in Cardiff is cancelled, the Welsh Rugby Union (WRU) might suffer a loss of up to £9 million ($11 million).

In order to fulfil a deadline set by Welsh players for resolution of the issue, players were instructed to appear at a meeting with the Professional Rugby Board (PRB), which handles negotiations over their contracts, on Wednesday.

Wales coach Warren Gatland, who delayed his planned team announcement on Tuesday, was in no doubt that the players were seriously contemplating strike action.

“I think it is a genuine threat, there is no doubt about that,” he said. “What the players were asking for is definitely reasonable.”

The WRU is yet to receive written confirmation of a new financial arrangement between the four Welsh regions of Cardiff, Dragons, Ospreys, and Scarlets.

Because of the uncertainty surrounding their futures, there are now worries that a substantial number of players whose contracts expire at the conclusion of this season will leave Wales.

The players want the minimum 60-cap requirement for selection by Wales to be abolished, a vote at PRB meetings, and a review of proposed contracts that call for an 80/20 split of base pay and bonuses.

Wales legend Jonathan Davies criticised the WRU’s behaviour, saying to the Rugby Pod: “It’s an embarrassing situation to be in. Players cannot be expected to perform when they have been given financial assurances.”

He continued, “Welsh rugby and the WRU have had a horrible last couple of months. It’s not a great reflection on them.”

Wales has dropped its first two Six Nations matches for the first time in 16 years, first to Ireland and then Scotland in record fashion (35-7).

A documentary that exposed charges of sexism, racism, and homophobia at the governing body led Steve Phillips to leave from his position as WRU chief executive last month.

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