Aussie salary cap fiasco

The new contracting regime in Australian rugby coupled with a Super Rugby salary cap has left several high profile players floating in limbo.

Australia’s Super Rugby teams must adhere to a strict new collective bargaining agreement, with the trouble being that nobody knows what exactly that is.

The Australian Rugby Union (ARU) and Rugby Union Players Association (RUPA) have been unable to find any common ground and the amount of the salary cap is still undetermined.

The only Australian side smiling are the privately-owned Melbourne Rebels, as the salary cap won’t apply to them, allowing the newest Super Rugby side to offer big money contracts to the likes of James O’Connor and Kurtley Beale.

The confusion over contract negotiations and top-up deals from the ARU to boost the earnings of the Wallaby stars has opened the door for overseas clubs to snap up some Australian players.

While Will Genia and Wycliff Palu have been tied down recently, several other players are becoming increasing frustrated by the whole saga.

“I’m definitely frustrated by it (the new system), what player’s not?” Reds loose forward Scott Higginbotham stressed to AAP.

“It (contract negotiations) is a tough thing to go through. It’s not the most enjoyable time, especially when you just want to do your job.

“It’s all pretty complicated and it’s hard to sort stuff out when you don’t have a guarantee with the ARU, but it’s always tough.”

The 25-year-old was reported to have agreed a new two-year deal last week, but has denied that anything has been signed at this stage.

“I obviously want to stay in Queensland,” Higginbotham said. “But it’s just a process of going back and forth with my manager and I’m trying to stay out of it as much as I can.”

Other Wallaby players not yet signed on for 2013 include high profile stars David Pocock and Quade Cooper.