IRFU and players dig their heels in

The IRFU chief executive Philip Browne and his counterpart from the Irish Rugby Union Players' Association Niall Woods will probably meet this evening in an effort to resolve the impasse over win bonuses which has threatened Ireland's forthcoming two-Test tour to South Africa.

Indeed, the IRFU felt obliged to inform the South African Rugby Football Union of developments over the weekend.

On Friday each and every one of the 25 Irish internationals who were informed that the IRFU were not budging on a figure of €3,810 for win bonuses - a figure which has remained the same since 1998 - told Woods that they would not travel to South Africa unless the offer was improved.

He in turn relayed the news to Browne and over the weekend the two parties became more entrenched in their views as they dug their heels in. The players describe the Union's offer as derisory and disgraceful, while Browne described the players' stance as bizarre.

Both sides would have sought legal advice, with the Union seeking to establish if the players were in breach of contract, as Browne yesterday implied that the players were "obliged" to tour. IRUPA's legal advice is that they are under no contractual obligation to tour as tour fees and win bonuses have yet to be agreed.

Browne did strike a more conciliatory tone yesterday, when commenting: "We'll meet with Niall Woods tomorrow (Monday) and we'll try and find a solution. But the onus is not only on the IRFU to find a solution, but with IRUPA aswell. They are part and parcel of the solution to a difficult situation and both sides will have to address this in a pragmatic and practical way."

Browne points out that the top 30 players have had an increase in salaries of around 20% this year and 50% over the last five years.

"For the players to say they are poorly paid is quite disingenuous of them. We pay €4 million to the top 26-odd players, which is not an insignificant amount of money in anyone's language."

This rift is not a recent one, and dates back to before the Six Nations. The match fees and bonuses for the championship were not paid at the time, pending a subsequent agreement being reached. But the IRFU haven't budged on match fees of €1,270 and win bonuses of €3,810 and Browne claims that the IRUPA's demands, if met, would cost them an additional €500,000.

"We have 24,000 seats in a stadium of limited potential. Our sponsorships are doing well, and we've budgeted for additional revenue next season but that will only stave off a continuing deficit. We cannot afford to add on another €500,000," he said.

In a veiled threat to the players of compulsory redundancies or cost-cutting elsewhere if IRUPA's demands are met, Browne warns that if they are compelled to find an additional €500,000 "then something else will have to give, and we will have to start looking at our support structures or sizes of squads."

However, in effectively offering not one extra cent either for match fees or win bonuses, the players argue that the Union are being completely unrealistic.

Meanwhile, the 26-man squad for South Africa will be announced today. It is likely to be based around the 22 who were on duty for the Triple Crown match against Scotland last time out.