As Steve Borthwick's England squad gears up to face Argentina at Twickenham, they owe a nod to the past — specifically to Martin Johnson and his 2000 team. This very week, 25 years ago, saw them take a bold stand against pay cuts proposed by the RFU, almost leading to the cancellation of a similar fixture. Johnson, a giant on and off the field, declared back then, “It is our livelihood. None of us, when we finish, will be in the position that a lot of footballers are where we never have to work again.”
The 2000 squad, which included stalwarts like Neil Back and Dan Luger, chose to walk out of the team hotel en masse, branding the RFU’s approach as ‘old fashioned, patronising and arrogant’. This action came two years before many from this group would clinch the World Cup. Clive Woodward, the coach at the time, described the day of the strike as "the saddest day in the history of English rugby", threatening to field a different team against Argentina if the players didn’t return.
Today, every player donning the England jersey reaps the benefits of that standoff, with either a hefty £160,000 contract or a per-match fee of £23,000, outcomes hard-won in the corridors of that same hotel. “Every player who has worn the England shirt since has benefited from the stand we took that week,” reflected World Cup winner Neil Back in a recent conversation.
"We didn’t want to go on strike but we did it for the greater good of the team and future England players."
The issue had indeed been dragging, as Back explained after rejoining his team, fresh from a hospital stay. That year, a fortuitous last-minute play against the Wallabies highlighted the financial disparities players faced. “Had the bounce of the ball gone the other way, I would have found myself in a position as a professional sportsman of actually losing out financially by playing for England,” Back noted, emphasizing the need for fair revenue distribution.
The strike, lasting 34 grueling hours, was a period of intense emotional strain for the players. Back admitted, “I fear I may never play for England again. I fear it most definitely and the thought makes me feel sick.” Johnson too feared that his legacy would be overshadowed by the strike. “I know I will be remembered as the man who led the England rugby team out on strike,” he said. Nonetheless, they returned to a warm reception at Twickenham and a victory over Argentina, a testament to their unity and resolve.
Years later, the unity forged during those turbulent times contributed significantly to England's 2003 World Cup triumph. The team’s togetherness remains intact, illustrated by a recent reunion of the World Cup squad, underscoring their enduring bond. Now, as Maro Itoje and his contemporaries line up for their latest test, their battles are confined to the pitch, thanks to victories won by their predecessors off it.
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As Steve Borthwick's England squad gears up to face Argentina at Twickenham, they owe a nod to the past — specifically to Martin Johnson and his 2000 team. This very week, 25 years ago, saw them take a bold stand against pay cuts proposed by the RFU, almost leading to the cancellation of a similar fixture. Johnson, a giant on and off the field, declared back then, “It is our livelihood. None of us, when we finish, will be in the position that a lot of footballers are where we never have to work again.”
The 2000 squad, which included stalwarts like Neil Back and Dan Luger, chose to walk out of the team hotel en masse, branding the RFU’s approach as ‘old fashioned, patronising and arrogant’. This action came two years before many from this group would clinch the World Cup. Clive Woodward, the coach at the time, described the day of the strike as "the saddest day in the history of English rugby", threatening to field a different team against Argentina if the players didn’t return.
Today, every player donning the England jersey reaps the benefits of that standoff, with either a hefty £160,000 contract or a per-match fee of £23,000, outcomes hard-won in the corridors of that same hotel. “Every player who has worn the England shirt since has benefited from the stand we took that week,” reflected World Cup winner Neil Back in a recent conversation.
"We didn’t want to go on strike but we did it for the greater good of the team and future England players."
The issue had indeed been dragging, as Back explained after rejoining his team, fresh from a hospital stay. That year, a fortuitous last-minute play against the Wallabies highlighted the financial disparities players faced. “Had the bounce of the ball gone the other way, I would have found myself in a position as a professional sportsman of actually losing out financially by playing for England,” Back noted, emphasizing the need for fair revenue distribution.
The strike, lasting 34 grueling hours, was a period of intense emotional strain for the players. Back admitted, “I fear I may never play for England again. I fear it most definitely and the thought makes me feel sick.” Johnson too feared that his legacy would be overshadowed by the strike. “I know I will be remembered as the man who led the England rugby team out on strike,” he said. Nonetheless, they returned to a warm reception at Twickenham and a victory over Argentina, a testament to their unity and resolve.
Years later, the unity forged during those turbulent times contributed significantly to England's 2003 World Cup triumph. The team’s togetherness remains intact, illustrated by a recent reunion of the World Cup squad, underscoring their enduring bond. Now, as Maro Itoje and his contemporaries line up for their latest test, their battles are confined to the pitch, thanks to victories won by their predecessors off it.