IRELAND'S JACK CONAN has backed the Welsh rugby players in their contract dispute with the Welsh Rugby Union.
Wales have struggled to gain any sort of form in 2022 and 2023 has not been kind either to the Wales team.
After losses to Ireland and Scotland on the field several other issues have plagued the famous rugby nation off it.
This year the governing body was rocked by accusations of sexism, racism and misogyny, which forced a WRU chief executive to resign.
Shortly after that the ban of Tom Jones' famous song 'Delilah' sang at every game at the Principality Stadium became another hot topic in Welsh rugby circles
The latest issue facing the Welsh rugby is around playing contracts between players and the union.
The WRFU and the four professional regions - Cardiff Rugby, Dragons RFC, Scarlets and Ospreys have been in a deadlock over future budgets and this is said to have impacted players securing new contracts.
A statement on the Wales Rugby Union website said, "There is no room for manoeuvre when it comes to the overall budget available for player contracts."
'It's obviously tough to hear with lads that you've played with and you know from competing with are in that situation' - Ireland's Jack Conan on possibility of Wales #SixNations strike #RTERugby https://t.co/Yfmnws7lkN pic.twitter.com/oCzjrbC5un
— RTÉ Rugby (@RTErugby) February 16, 2023
Wales play England in the next game of this year's Six Nations and that game is in major doubt according to sources close to the situation
Though some people have no sympathy for the Welsh players in the dispute, Ireland's Conan has supported the action by the players and added that he hopes that it gets resolved
“Some of the lads were chatting about it earlier,” claimed Conan. “Obviously Tadhg Beirne was here briefly earlier, and he would have a better understanding from his time in Wales.”
“It’s obviously tough to hear with lads that you’ve played with, and you know from competing with are in that situation.
“At the end of the day, it’s a job and lads in that position have no job security, so hopefully they sort it out and I hope for the competition’s sake the game goes ahead but fair play to the lads in Wales, I’m sure they’re making some tough decisions about it and hopefully they’ll come out on the right side of it.”
Ireland's next game in the Six Nations will be against Italy on the February 25th.
