England stars: RFU's pay offer is "unfair"

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England's elite players continue to baulk at moves to apportion a third of their pay to performance-based payments, less than a month before they fly out for the two-test tour of New Zealand.

The boss of the country's Professional Rugby Players' Association David Barnes has lashed out at the move, labelling it "unfair".

Just 24 hours after new England manager Martin Johnson had named a 32-strong squad to tour New Zealand in June, the threat of a strike by leading players was aired.

It surrounds the Rugby Football Union's plan to implement a new international pay structure, including cutting yearly retainers by $75,000 but introducing win bonuses.

And Barnes said the unrest amongst players wasn't just restricted to the mooted scheme.

"There is a bit of a problem at the moment, not exclusively about money," he told the Telegraph.

"The major bone of contention is win bonuses on a match-by-match basis. In a team game in which anything can happen and the team can play very well and lose, we believe that to be unfair.

"I don't believe England players are frightened of the concept of an end-of-tournament bonus being paid on top of a fair and negotiated match fee calculated on their finishing position in the Six Nations and World Cup."

The RFU has issued a press release stating that talks were "continuing" and progressing in a "positive and productive manner".

At present England's international squad are on currents valued at $300,000-a-season.

The plan from the RFU included smaller match payments, but the ability to earn more money through win bonuses.

RFU elite director of rugby Rob Andrew, who will coach the team in Johnson's absence, is confident of thrashing out a peace plan in a series of meetings over the next couple of days.

The Telegraph reported on Thursday: "The players are adamant that the introduction of performance-related payments would suggest that they might sometimes give less than 100 per cent in a given England game and would therefore call their integrity into doubt.

"The honour and achievement that is deserving of reward and on which all payments should be based, they argue, is earning selection by England. The result, they argue, although important, is not relevant in terms of payment.

"The RFU, who remain confident that a compromise will be reached, strongly beg to differ and point to the fact that many of their personnel are already employed on performance-related schemes, including Andrew himself, chief executive Francis Baron and Johnson."