Australian Rugby Union CEO Bill Pulver "vowed that no Wallabies who want to play in the Rio Olympics sevens next year will be financially disadvantaged," according to Wayne Smith of THE AUSTRALIAN. The "fear was that any Wallabies who raised their hands to join the sevens program would be considerably out of pocket because their Super Rugby franchises would not pay them for the 2016 season." But Pulver promised that "the only hits the players would take would be on the field." Pulver said, "We would not expect them to take a pay cut if they were Wallabies top-up players. We would honor the Wallabies top-up regardless of whether they’re playing sevens or 15s." But "the real problem, according to Pulver, is the scheduling." Although next year’s Super Rugby draw has not been finalized, it "is expected the grand final will be in early August." But the Rio Olympics opening ceremony "is set down for August 5, so any player committing to the sevens would miss the Super Rugby final." Pulver: "Money is not the biggest challenge we have at the moment but logistics, because you really can’t be jumping in and out of the Super Rugby season." Australian rugby’s planning essentially "is in a state of suspended animation" until the broadcast deal covering '16-20 is signed and the exchange rate -- the deal is in U.S. dollars -- is agreed upon. Pulver said that every fluctuation in the exchange rate "represents millions of dollars to Australian rugby" (THE AUSTRALIAN, 4/10).
