ENGLAND’S Six Nations clash against Wales is in serious doubt after the hosts cancelled their team announcement.
The decision was made at the final moments as there is a continued threat of strike action from the Wales players.
PAWarren Gatland’s team announcement has been postponed[/caption]
AlamyWales’ game against England has been left in serious doubt[/caption]
Head coach Warren Gatland was planning to announce his side for the match at midday on Tuesday but it has now been provisionally pushed back to later in the week.
Bitter rivals Wales and England are supposed to face off against each other on Saturday at the Principality Stadium.
Wales’ Six Nations stars are still threatening to take strike action as Welsh Rugby Union has not yet signed a new six-year funding agreement.
As many as 100 players have their contracts expiring at the end of the season and are concerned over their futures.
They have held a meeting with the Welsh rugby’s professional rugby board and have made their demands.
Players want the 60-cap rule – which blocks junior stars from playing club rugby abroad – to be abolished, the removal of a variable element in contracts and for a player to have a voice at the Professional Rugby Board level.
However, only the latter one of their conditions have been met by the board, hence the threat of strike action.
To avoid the strike, the players want all three conditions to be met.
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At a meeting on Monday, the first two were discussed, but could not be resolved, potentially putting Welsh rugby into turmoil.
The 60-cap rule is a restriction on Welsh players that stops them from playing in domestic leagues away from Wales unless they have played 60 times for the national team.
If it were abolished it would allow stars to seek more lucrative moves to countries such as France or Japan, where salaries are on average higher.
The concern from the board is that it would see many of their star players leave the country and potentially lower the skill level of their domestic league.
Wales are currently bottom of the Six Nations table having lost their first two games.
England are in third place, having won one and losing one.