Wales’ Nations Championship opener against Fiji is set to go ahead after the squad and the Welsh Rugby Union resolved a dispute over match fees and employment terms. The agreement came three days before the fixture at Cardiff City Stadium.
The issue surfaced publicly when a scheduled Wales media session was delayed and then cancelled, with players not taking part while discussions continued between the WRU and the Welsh Rugby Players’ Association. Interviews planned with broadcaster S4C were also called off.
Further talks produced a deal late on Wednesday afternoon, and the WRU and WRPA indicated that training plans for the Fiji match had not been disrupted. Steve Tandy is expected to name his team on Thursday, before Wales complete their final preparations on Friday.
The episode adds another off-field complication for a Wales group that has already dealt with recent uncertainty around player relations and the future shape of the professional game in Wales. After Fiji, Wales are scheduled to travel for Tests against Argentina in San Juan and South Africa in Durban.
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