England stars agree to cut their pay by £6k per match when Test rugby returns with cash-strapped RFU unable to offer same lavish terms after financial impact of COVID-19

England stars have agreed to pay cuts of almost £6,000 per match when Test rugby returns this autumn.

The previous agreement, worth £23,000 per match, ended in the summer and the cash-strapped RFU made it clear they could not afford the same terms.

A senior player group, led by Owen Farrell, were involved in negotiations and agreed to a blanket pay cut of 25 per cent.

England stars have agreed to pay cuts of almost £6,000 per match when Test rugby returns

Despite the financial squeeze, England’s players will remain the highest paid in the world at £17,250 per Test match.

The RFU are braced to lose £107million in revenue over the next year and the community game has already faced widespread redundancies.

The elite team, however, are not immune from the financial impacts of Covid-19.

England’s coach Eddie Jones has already agreed to a 25 per cent pay cut during the crisis and the Australian is braced to lose 12 per cent of his staff.

England’s coach Eddie Jones had already agreed to a 25 per cent pay cut during the crisis