REPORTS | Wallabies star stood down for refusing pay cut - Ruck

REPORTS | Wallabies star stood down for refusing pay cut

Australia could lose test lock Izack Rodda to an overseas club in a pay cut mutiny.

Rodda, full-back Isaac Lucas and lock Harry Hockings were stood down by the Reds following discussions with the players and their agent, the Super Rugby club said on Monday.

“Unfortunately, we have had to take the decision to stand down three of our players,” said Queensland Rugby Union chief executive David Hanham.

“Given the recent negotiated player-payment reduction agreement, this was not a situation the QRU had expected to face.”

Rugby Australia and the players association negotiated average wage cuts of 60 per cent, which in Rodda’s case meant losing around $100,000 over six months.

He and Hockings are said to be looking at overseas contracts. Rodda is contracted with RA until 2023 but under the wage cut deal some players are allowed to look elsewhere. Lucas has a long-term Reds deal while Hockings is off contract soon.

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According to RUCK sources, Rodda was in advanced negotiations with London Irish over a possible move last year before opting to stay with the Reds.

Another club in the market for an international second-row is Leicester Tigers with Geordan Murphy revealing this week they were close to signing one.

“We actually are in the process of finalising someone in that position and we will release that when we are ready, hopefully early next week.” said the Leicester boss.


LIST | 5 hilarious Jason Leonard stories

England legend Jason Leonard has told many great stories down the years.

Here are some of our favourites.

1. ‘I didn’t do it’

Just before we headed out to the 1995 World Cup in South Africa, all the players agreed on a booze ban when coach Jack Rowell discovered that someone had come in at 2am. He accused me at training the next day and I flatly denied it. As I told Martin Bayfield standing next to me: “It couldn’t have been me Bayf – I didn’t get in until 4am.” Poor Bayf just burst out laughing.

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