SCOTT QUINNELL has agreed a contract to play for Wales that could earn him up to £76,000 from his international return this season.
Together with his Richmond earnings, which are worth about £130,000 subject to results, the 24-year-old former Wigan forward could become the first union international in Wales to top £200,000 a season.
Quinnell, who won nine caps in 1993-94, will receive a £4,000 match fee plus an enhanced win bonus of up to £4,000 as well as his basic salary of £20,000 a season.
The deal, which makes the Wales number eight available for a maximum of seven internationals this season, compares more than favourably with the standard contract dished out to members of the Welsh squad, which is worth £30,000 a year plus £2,000 match fee and £2,000 win bonus.
The former Llanelli player, who moved to rugby league two years ago, will be available for the pre-Christmas internationals against Australia (December 1st) and South Africa (December 15th at the Cardiff Arms Park), the visit of the US Eagles (January 4th) and all four matches in the 1997 Five Nations Championship.
Quinnell could form a formidable international back row alongside Bath's Richard Webster, a cross-code return from Salford, and Steve Williams of Neath, who can play at flanker or number eight.
If Wales chose to restore Cardiff's David Young to the front row and Gareth Llewellyn of Harlequins stayed at lock, they could. put out arguably its strongest pack since the Seventies.
It remains to be seen whether Quinnell's financial terms, which were negotiated by his agent, Mike Burton, will accelerate or delay an agreement between the Welsh Rugby Union and Webster and Young, not to mention other players on the threshold of the Welsh squad. In fact, the assiduous Burton is still seeking a permanent disability insurance policy, which involves costly premiums from the WRU, on behalf of his client before allowing the contract to be signed and sealed.
It is surprising that the WRU did not insist on precisely the same contract for Quinnell as that agreed with other members of the Welsh squad, including Swansea's Scott Gibbs, another high-profile returnee. There may be little to choose by the end of the season between Quinnell's Welsh earnings and his teammates - they can earn up to £70,000 if they play in all 10 internationals; but a contentious precedent has been set that could open a can of worms in future negotiations.
Still, Wales's recent international form, which has yielded one Championship win in the past two years, suggests they have some way to go before Quinnell can collect regular win bonuses.
