Ken Owens, Ross Moriarty, Jonathan Davies and Alun Wyn Jones are among the relevant people here. Regardless, being a Lion is the top tier of payment for international Welsh rugby players. Green checkmark indicates a player's salary has been "verified" (sourced). This article looks at the salaries of Cardiff rugby players. Despite off-ice difficulties throughout the 200607 season, the Devils finished 3rd in the league. Mike Brown and Ollie Lawrence join the team on RugbyPass Offload this week as they talk Prem rugby, the Six Nations and much more. The 20045 season did not finish well for the Devils. International players who are not Test Lions: 180,000 to 300,000/350,000. It is hardly the stuff of the workhouse, but then professional sportspeople could argue that. Check out these articles: These overviews will also give you links to detailed articles about individual clubs and provinces. Cardiff pays 20% for players who fall into this top category. All team and league logos are the trademark and property of their Nevertheless, that is exactly what WalesOnline have done, with their list of the 15 best-paid rugby players around the world featured below. SIGNING BONUS PERF. Company Information; FAQ; Stone Materials. The Devils buried their Challenge Cup voodoo from the new arena and progressed to the semi-finals of the Challenge Cup for the first time in 3 years by beating the Coventry Blaze 32 on 28 October 2009. Veteran France halfback Morgan Parras international career may have hit a speed bump, but a recent contract extension with Clermont has kept the 31-year-old among one of the games top earners. But under the system being used in Wales, Anscombe is apparently deemed less valuable than some of his team-mates because he hasnt toured with the Lions. The WRU pays handsome bonuses to players if they win the Six Nations championship. The Devils in fact won the game 54 on the night but it was not enough to overturn the 42 loss suffered in the 1st leg in Cardiff the previous week. Depending on who you talk to, he is being classed as a 300,000-a-year player or a 350,000 player. The WRU negotiated pay cuts with the regions in 2021. If you want a more detailed explanation of the structure than what we give here, check out our general overview on Welsh rugby salaries. The BIHA officials though ruled that it had been provoked by the English side and hence the score should stand as a final result. [15], Cardiff were top of the table at the time of the cancellation and were runners-up in the 2020 Challenge Cup final, losing to Sheffield Steelers, although the scheduled play-offs were cancelled.[16]. Payroll Table 2022-2023. Use of any marks, trademarks, or logos on this website shall not constitute a sponsorship or endorsement by the trademark holder. Birthdate Birthplace Highest Level; Gerad Adams: 350: 43: 74: 117: 514: 2005-2014: 9: D: 1978-04-03: Regina, SASK: Minor Pro: You can check out the details in our in-depth article on how much Scottish rugby players earn. These cookies may be set through our site by our advertising partners. Promotion to Division 1 though was dependent on them winning the Division 1 Play-off Champions, which the club hosted at the WNIR. The Devils management have had discussions with the IIHF and Guinness World Records who have verified that this is in fact a World Record. They may be used by those companies to build a profile of your interests and show you relevant adverts on other sites. Historical facts and data about the Cardiff Devils [EIHL] hockey team of the EIHL, including players, standings, logos, and game program images. Paul Castron was signed but pulled out just before the start of the season, but fortunately for the club Doug McEwen had been released by Peterborough at the same time and so signed for the Devils instead. They are usually only set in response to actions made by you which amount to a request for services, such as setting your privacy preferences, logging in or filling in forms. Gatland was a passenger. No rating for Stevenson? The current figures are about 5,500 per match and an annual image rights bonus of 1,500. Cardiff are the reigning EIHL play-off champions, winning their third title in a row after beating the Belfast Giants 63 at the 2022 EIHL play-off Final.[2]. Let's see if you can match the quote to the player or coach! import defenceman Scott Romfo was released, with coach Gerad Adams citing salary costs as the main reason. Ian and Stephen Cooper both returned to Durham, whilst Brian Dickson and Robbie Morris also left. [22], On 22 September 2020, the Cardiff Devils announced the appointment of Jarrod Skalde as the club's new head coach and Director of Hockey Operations. Download our sponsorship pack and see how you can become a part of the Devils. Lions players: Between 250,000 and 450,000. The Save Our Rink Action Committee (SORAC) formed to lead calls from the city's ice hockey clubs and fans for a temporary facility to be constructed while a more permanent building was finally built. WalesOnline reports that Scotland captain Stuart Hogg was the highest-paid player in Scotland during his time with the Glasgow Warriors, but added an extra 200,000 to his salary when he joined English club Exeter Chiefs last year. Refresh your mind, take a trip down memory lane and view all our achievements. Joining Fulton on the injury list were centre Lee Cowmeadow and then top scorer Mike Prpich. Canadian Marc Fulton was drafted in to replace Hinks, however after a promising start, was sidelined by injury and did not play for the club again. This move left many fans feeling disappointed, due to Scott's impressive performance over the preceding weeks. Unsurprisingly, he hasnt been going around whistling Top of the World by the Carpenters. With the referee not calling any penalty, coach Kanewischer took his team off the ice in protest midway through the 2nd period. These are the top Welsh players with many test caps but who missed out on a Lions tour. [3][4][5] Lord led the club to the 2015 Challenge Cup title in his first season as a coach. All information these cookies collect is aggregated and therefore anonymous. Well focus on the payment aspects in this article. These cookies may be set through our site by our advertising partners. Wales has done very well in the historic tournament in recent years. In 2003, the Devils became founder members of the Elite League, finishing the first season in 5th place. The new owners massively reduced spending and effectively disbanded the old Cardiff Devils, with the entire Superleague team departing. But do they also get paid by the Lions? [6], Further success followed with the club's first league title in 20 years secured at the end of the 2016-17 EIHL season, alongside another Challenge Cup title - while the team finished runners-up in the Elite League play-offs after losing the final to the Sheffield Steelers in 2017. Certainly when you think about the results weve provided them. cardiff devils player salary. Some of them are very well paid indeed! Academy players were exempt. Cardiff Devils Statistics and History [EIHL] . This substantial boost will have a great . You can set your browser to block or alert you about these cookies, but some parts of the site will not then work. At times when they try and pigeon-hole you into something its a little bit frustrating. Jonathan Davies and Ross Moriarty were selected for earlier tours and are seasoned internationals. You can check out the details in our article on how much Ireland rugby players earn. DATE . We find the information so you don't have to. Home; About Us. Early this year, we saw a major development for the league when the salary cap for players doubled from $300,000 to $750,000, with a cap floor of $562,000. Also, by disabling these cookies you will also disable banner ads served by Google Adsense on this website.. For more information about these items, view our complete privacy policy.Read More. Active Contracts 2022 Salary Cap Table Salaries by Year Positional Spending 2023 Free Agents While the salaries of athletes from top-tier sporting leagues such as the NBA, NFL and Premier League are flaunted throughout media outlets worldwide, it can be comparatively difficult to know how much the best rugby players rake in. We have an article that looks in-depth on how much England rugby players earn. Does it make sense for an international outhalf to be earning less than an international winger, just because the wing was selected for the B&I Lions? Cardiff City play in the Sky Bet Championship, the second division of mens professional football in England. When you visit any web site, it may store or retrieve information on your browser, mostly in the form of cookies. This is for the club academy players who arent on professional contracts. Victory in the pre-season Trafford Tournament gave an indication of the success to come, although the Devils did get knocked out of the Autumn Cup at the semi-final stage to Durham Wasps. But how do the salaries compare to other countries? 2022-23 Payroll. Despite Oxford playing in the division above, the Devils won the game 98. The Devils started their season fairly well with big imports such as Mark Smith and Max Birbraer returning and newly signed forward Tylor Michel becoming a fan favourite quickly. sims 4 celebrity townies; nick suzuki grandfather Open menu. Elich, brought in to replace the injured Derek Campbell, scored 1+1 in his debut game and continued to contribute points consistently. Also, if Voth had been ejected from one more game as captain, he would face a lengthy ban. The Devils also acquired bottom-six forward Curtis Lazar from the Canucks. With the WNIR not ready for the start of the season, the team played several games away from home to begin with. The first leg in Cardiff saw the Devils win 42. Home; About Us. TV revenue was reduced due to fewer matches. If you do not allow these cookies, you will experience less targeted advertising. 2009-2010. The information does not usually directly identify you, but it can give you a more personalised web experience. Match attendances were also curtailed. As a hooker, and despite his outstanding contribution to Wales, Owens would probably have a deal at the lower end of the band with the talismanic Jones, who plays in an in-demand position of lock, a candidate for a higher-end wage. After an off-season with signings that brought back the past players of Joey Martin, Ben Bowns and Samuel Jardine and promising players such as four time ECHL MVP Marcus Crawford, the Devils were expecting a strong year. He is among the leading players affected by the restructuring of pay in the game in Wales. Heres the top-to-bottom list: Cardiff has two international flyhalves on the books. Finally, we get to the lowest rung of the ladder. If you do not allow these cookies, you will experience less targeted advertising. A 147 victory at home to the Peterborough Pirate on 4 March 1990 clinched their first ever Premier Division League title. So what are the grades of pay that are causing certain players so much angst? So the WRU introduced a payment known as National Dual Contracts. But there are no guarantees that anyone will stay a Test player. Whew. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. When the ranges were agreed, there were concerns over Welsh international flyhalf Gareth Anscombe. But its proving a tougher challenge for him to land a significant upgrade in wages under the new structure. Contents 1 History 1.1 1986-87 1.2 1987-88 1.3 1988-89 1.4 1989-90 1.5 1990-91 1.6 1997 - 07/08 1.7 2008/09 Season 2 Retired Numbers 3 Honours and Awards 4 External links Who Pays The Cardiff Players? When they step up to their first professional contract, they can expect to double that. If you want to learn more of some of the headaches this has caused, check out our article on Cardiff player salaries. Sources - Press releases, news & articles, online encyclopedias & databases, industry experts & insiders. Soul-searching could be the order of the day for a lot of players in the seasons ahead. Were a world-class team. The legendary lock is considered to be the highest-paid rugby player in Wales. Well, he finds himself locked in a dispute over wages with the people who run professional rugby in Wales. "Man of the Match" Nathan Rempel scored a memorable hat-trick, whilst Rejean Stringer scored the winning goal in the penalty shoot-out. There's no doubt about that, but players deserve to be treated well, he said in an interview published after Wales won the Grand Slam. #englandrugby #saracens #nzrugby #allblacks #rugby #rugbygram #sixnations #6nations, A post shared by RugbyPass (@rugbypass) on Apr 20, 2020 at 11:04pm PDT. But his Lions gig rockets him up the salary chart! John Lawless, a 25-year-old Canadian, was given the responsibility of setting up a brand new team, having been a trainee assistant manager at Peterborough who were owned by the same company. We have only a 10-year window to really look after ourselves and I guess the important thing is you dont want to look back with any regrets.. Become an official partner of the cardiff devils. Attendances at games dropped heavily, going from full arenas to typically less than fifty. The Devils are a team on the rise and could have saved their assets for future seasons. Flyhalf Dan Biggar tops all Welsh players, including his national captain. Therefore, by relinquishing the armband he could carry on playing the enforcer role. Depending on who you talk to, he is being classed as a 300,000-a-year player or a 350,000 player. Thirty-eight players named in a Wales squad at the start of the season are said to have had their pay looked at on a case-by-case basis. Knocked out once again at the semi-final stage of the Autumn Cup by Durham Wasps, they finished second to the Wasps in the league and were knocked out in the Playoff Semi-finals by Peterborough Pirates as Durham completed the Grand Slam. The team play at Ice Arena Wales[1] in Cardiff Bay. There is a tier precisely for players on their first contract. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. However, the extras dont stop there. With Weller on board and Voth back in the line-up, the club embarked on a record breaking winning streak, which ended after a penalty shootout loss in Dundee on 16 January. Multi-Year Salaries. The current figures are about 5,500 per match and an annual image rights bonus of 1,500. Was beginning to wonder if we were evergoing to see Hotham. Their entire salary can be made up of several income streams: Brand deals and sponsorships from third parties can be worth very different amounts across players. But in a strange twist of fate the result proved to be irrelevant. The highest salary for a Hockey Player in United Kingdom is 65,613 per year. The team struggled again with injuries and suspensions notably the highly controversial 11-game suspension of club captain Brad Voth (which was cut to 7 on review). In the league the side finished a very respectable 3rd place, although 10 points behind winners Telford Tigers. There are other highly paid stars who are well paid but earn less than this. Cardiff initially delayed the announcement of Lord's successor as head coach and, on 15 September 2020, the Elite League confirmed the suspension of the 202021 season due to ongoing uncertainty over coronavirus and its restrictions. The most comprehensive sports salary database. 10 yet he is being offered a package that would see him earn around half of what his deputy in the Six Nations, Dan Biggar, is wheelbarrowing home at Northampton, who reputedly pay the former Ospreys man in the region of 650,000 a year. Unfortunately for the Devils, despite a final period comeback after being 4 goals behind, Aviemore were able to hang on for a 109 win and promotion to Division 1 at the expense of Cardiff. cut and fail predicate in prolog ppt Open menu. The highest earning player in the squad is Callum Robinson earning 18,000 per week. Salary estimates are based on 42,768 salaries submitted anonymously to Glassdoor by Hockey Player employees. (Explained), How Much Do Cardiff Rugby Players Earn? During the 200405 NHL lock-out, Rob Davison of the San Jose Sharks played for the Devils. Players earn additional match fees and image rights when they are selected to play in international tests. When asked if the situation had made him consider seeking employment in England, he said: I think it has made all the boys think about that. After a league investigation Cardiff were eventually fined 1000 for their actions and Kanewisher banned for the rest of the season. Leinster out-half Jonny Sexton is the highest-paid rugby player in Ireland. Devils captain Brad Voth was given the honour of being named captain for the South team for the 'All-Star Spectacular'. Learn how and when to remove these template messages, Learn how and when to remove this template message, "Arena Confirm New 5-year Naming Rights Partnership With Viola", "Devils win play-offs to deny Giants treble", "Head coach Andrew Lord keen to add two forwards and three defenceman to his Cardiff Devils team for 2014-15", "Steve King a new man at the top for Cardiff Devils", "King welcoming the challenge for Cardiff | British Ice Hockey", "Cardiff Devils beat Sheffield Steelers to win Challenge Cup - BBC Sport", "Elite League round-up: Devils deliver title in style | British Ice Hockey", "Sheffield Steelers beat Cardiff Devils to win Elite League play-offs - BBC Sport", "Cardiff Devils win in Belfast to claim league trophy", "Cardiff Devils: Coach Andrew Lord leaves for North America - BBC Sport", "Giants crowned champions as Cardiff fall at final hurdle", "Elite League play-off final: Cardiff Devils beat Belfast Giants 2-1 - BBC Sport", "EIHL cancels all matches for rest of season | EIHL", "Challenge Cup final: Sheffield Steelers 4-3 Cardiff Devils - BBC Sport", "Andrew Lord Named Head Coach of Greenville Swamp Rabbits", "Cardiff Devils withdraw from the CHL 2020/21", "Devils Confirm Jarrod Skalde as Head Coach", "Devils part ways with Head Coach Jarrod Skalde", "Devils Confirm Brodie Dupont as Head Coach", "Bayley Harewood continues his development with the Devils", The Inferno Cardiff Devils Fan Community, Great Britain men's national ice hockey team, Great Britain women's national ice hockey team, Cardiff City Ladies F.C. No doubt he will wait for his appeal to be completed. Yes, because the WRU never likes things to get too uncomplicated. This website is not directly or indirectly affiliated, associated, or connected in any way to Major League Baseball, the National Basketball Association, the National Football League or the National Hockey League. Because we respect your right to privacy, you can choose not to allow some types of cookies. Because we respect your right to privacy, you can choose not to allow some types of cookies. #irelandrugby #irishrugby #leinsterrugby #sixnations #rugby #rugbygram #rugby? The proposal is for that deal to simply roll over in monetary terms, despite Anscombes own stature in the Welsh game increasing significantly over the past two years. Freepik Update your browser to view this website correctly. The BIHA decided the league structure needed re-organising, and as a result the Cardiff Devils were moved into Division 1 (South) for the following season. While eventually the supporters club would reconcile with Bob Phillips and some of the old players would make goodwill appearances, the team's best years were clearly behind them. Well review these in the next section. Contracts Active. Cardiff City total salary bill is 238,080 per week. In the other semi-final Scottish League Champions Aviemore Blackhawks beat Southern Winners Streatham Bruins(134) to set up an all Celtic final the following day. Below the marquee professionals, there is a tier for established professionals. You can mentally reduce the figures in this article in the immediate aftermath of the pandemic. One of Englands standouts during last years World Cup in Japan, barnstorming midfielder Manu Tuilagi turned down a lucrative 2.5m offer from Racing 92 to sign a two-year extension with the Leicester Tigers six months ahead of the tournament. 9 depth is a definite weakness in Saderland.. 1. The Glassdoor community relies on people like you to share accurate salary info to promote fair compensation everywhere. Player profile : 22: Justin Crandall: Forward: 30: 86 kg 180 cm Player profile : 15: Marcus Crawford: Defenseman: 25: 90 kg 180 cm Player profile : 5: Ben Davies: Centre: 32: 81 kg 173 cm Player profile : 16: Sam Duggan: Forward: 24: 90 kg 187 cm Player profile 2. The top non-international level is for marquee professionals. Find total team salary cap and player wage breakdown. In 1997 the club won the Superleague championship. Why was he even out there? Our article on Saracens player salaries notes that Williams was reportedly on a salary of about 300K. Pos. Cardiff Devils Guildford Flames 3 - 1 2023-02-26T16:00:00+0000 Nottingham Panthers Dundee Stars 4 - 2 Show More. Shop Now . The Devils also won the British Knockout Cup, beating rivals Coventry Blaze 30 at Coventry's Skydome. But these are approximately the latest ones being used. During a game on 16 January in Telford, the Devils players were subjected to constant sticking offences resulted in Shannon Hope receiving a serious injury just below his eye. . Partnered with the USA TODAY Sports Media Group|Powered by, Traded to New Jersey (NJD) from Vancouver (VAN) for 2024 4th round pick, Promoted from the Minors by New Jersey (NJD), Demoted to the Minors by New Jersey (NJD). His salary bracket would be in the first pro contract band of up to 40K. They will also be on the top tier of at least 250K. These cookies allow us to count visits and traffic sources so we can measure and improve the performance of our site. window.scriptsToInit.push('BrightCoveEmbeddedScrollVideo.init("6151883917001");'); WalesOnline reports that legendary playmaking duo Dan Carter and Matt Giteau are on contracts worth around 1.1m (NZ$2.2m/AU$2.1m) at Kobelco Steelers and Suntory Sungoliath, respectively, but both players are set to move on following the cancellation of this years Top League. cardiff devils player salarymass effect andromeda truth and trespass bug 03/06/2022 / brinks robbery weather underground / en elliot williams cnn education / por It is hardly the stuff of the workhouse, but then professional sportspeople could argue that their time in the sun is short and they need to cash in while at the peak of their powers. Enter Gallery. Welsh fans often wonder how much players earn in neighboring countries. These are usually the young guns with a Summer tour to the United States behind them. Dont ask about the name changes! On 9 January, the Devils went to the top of the Elite Ice Hockey League table with a 71 home win over Dundee Stars. The Devils embarked on the season with an average start, with critics citing an underperforming defence. The season proved to be successful with the Devils winning the Autumn Trophy in November with an 1110 aggregate win over the Trafford Metros. Our article on Northampton Saints salaries notes that Biggar is reported on a salary of about 600K per year. Whatever, some will wonder in the long run about whether players should have to make such choices. The Devils were placed in Group E which is one of two third round stages and hosted the group against Ducs d'Angers, HDD Jesenice and HK Zemgale. On 7 December 2009 it was announced that forward Ryan Finnerty, formerly of the rival Sheffield Steelers had signed for Cardiff. . We are doing a hell of a lot for the country, so we should be looked after. In January 2007 player-coach Ed Patterson was released by the Devils in a cost-cutting move. Lord departed the Devils in June 2020 to take up the head coach role at ECHL side Greenville Swamp Rabbits. ? In the league though they were unbeaten until December, by which time they had built up a healthy lead at the top of the table. Browse our tickets avaliable. The fullback has two Lions tours under his belt and can expect to be in the top-earning tier at the club. . Cardiff City play in the Sky Bet Championship, the second division of mens professional football in England. Cardiff finally got to play their first ever game at the WNIR on 30 November 1986 where a crowd of 2500 saw their new heroes humiliate Ashfield Islanders 320. Established professionals at regions, not playing Test rugby: 40,000 to 110,000. The Devils season was mixed. It doesnt always work out like that, not in Welsh rugby, anyway. Cardiff Devils - EIHL - hockey team page with roster, stats, transactions at Eliteprospects.com. Nigel Walker sat down with the press to address the pressing issues in Welsh rugby. The players of the Cardiff Devils and the Sheffield Steelers line up for the . His long-time second row partner Sam Whitelock was in a similar position this year when he was allowed a six-month break from his new four-year deal with NZR to join the Panasonic Wild Knights, but has since returned to New Zealand due to the pandemic. Meanwhile, on the same day, the Belfast Giants defeated the Nottingham Panthers after a penalty shootout to also advance. [23], Despite leading Cardiff to the 2022 Challenge Cup final where they were runners-up, Skalde parted company with the Devils in April 2022. Taulupe Faletau is another high earner outside of Wales. Use of any marks, trademarks, or logos on this website shall not constitute a sponsorship or endorsement by the trademark holder. Lazar is a tough, reliable player who can take on hard defensive assignments. Its not just through club wages. Or theyve got a few games off the bench in the Six Nations. That brings a tidy win bonus per player of over 17K for the tournament success. The Cardiff Devils' first ever game was a Challenge match away to the Oxford City Stars on 12 October 1986. [26], In the same month (May 2022), Cardiff announced an affiliation with NIHL side Bristol Pitbulls - the side coached by former Devils assistant Jamie Elson - which will see up to three Pitbulls players sign two-way deals with the Devils to train and play.[27]. Cardiff pays 20% for players who fall into this top category. (2023), Six Nations Winners Titles And Grand Slams By Team, 8 Ways To Prevent Blisters From Rugby Boots, Young players on their first professional contract. Search. Partnered with the USA TODAY Sports Media Group|Powered by, Signed a 2 year contract with Cardiff City FC, Signed a 3 year contract by transfer from Wigan to Cardiff City F.C. They could earn 20,000 or thereabouts as they make their way up the rugby ladder. This section gives a detailed explanation of what each band means. Frankly, this structure seems a bit bonkers to me. Founded in 1986, the club became the dominant force in the sport in the late 1980s and early 1990s, winning a total of 7 league titles. This article examines the salaries of professional rugby players in the big four regional clubs and how much they are paid for playing for Wales. The new team was formed from a handful of quickly drafted players, as well scavenging the Cardiff Devils youth teams to make up the numbers under the lower budget. Cardiff City total salary bill is 12,380,160 per year. Update my browser now. The EIHL board unanimously determined that social distancing guidelines and having no fans in attendance at games made the season non-viable. After Doug McEwen had scored the 23rd shot, Jeff Smith saved Tony Hand's attempt and the Devils had won the Playoff Championship in one of the greatest Finals of all time, live on BBC Grandstand. The club entered the British Ice Hockey League Structure at the bottom of Division 2 (Midland Section) at a time when each team was only allowed a maximum of three import players. Here are the bands for the more experienced players. Secure the best seat in the house by becoming a season ticket holder this season. They also retained the Autumn Trophy they had won the previous season, beating Medway 158 on aggregate. Image licensing can be paid by third parties to use player photos in their advertising. A summary of financial breakdowns for the New Jersey Devils, including multi-year cap totals, player cap hits, top earnings, contracts, & free agents. If the Lions had won the 2021 series, the Welsh players would have got a tasty bonus of 10K. Cardiff fought back though and a Steven Cooper goal 95 seconds from the end tied the game at 66 and sent the game into Overtime and then a Penalty Shootout. With Lawless deciding to play himself, he brought over fellow Canadians Perry Olivier and Bill Taylor to join him on the roster, with the remaining places going to British players, one of whom, Paul Morganti, a student at Cardiff University, had been raised in Canada and had significant high school hockey experience. This article uses the averages and reported salaries of more normal times. The Cardiff Blues player has had the glory. Add to that the mass pay cuts players have been taking around the globe, and its no easy task trying to unravel the yearly incomes of the planets best players. Beauden Barrett (New Zealand/Blues) - 520,000 (NZ$1m) Two-time World Rugby player of the year Beauden Barrett quashed rumours of a big-money offshore move last year when he signed a four-year deal with NZR that included a high-profile Super Rugby transfer from the Hurricanes to the Blues. Gareth Anscombe's future is in doubt amid the new pay structure in Wales, (Image: Chris Fairweather/Huw Evans Agency), (Image: Darren Griffiths/Huw Evans Agency). Players earning above the academy tier took a 25% cut in earnings. However this proved not to be the case, with construction problems delaying the opening of the Cardiff Arena until December 2006. They may be crucial players who are long longer being selected for test rugby but are vital to the club in their leadership and experience.