This summer's Lions tourists will be paid less per man than their counterparts in Australia four years ago.
The Lions will embark on the most expensive tour in their history this summer, when they attempt to win a series in New Zealand for only the second time, but the rewards for the 44 players who travel will be relatively modest.
The players have been offered a package which will be worth £25,000 if the three-Test series is won. They will receive £1,000 before the trip and £4,000 when they return. The tour fee is £15,000, with a £500 bonus for winning one Test, rising to £5,000 if they prevail in two or more. It contrasts with the £28,000 on offer to the 2001 tourists if they won all 10 matches, though the potential total amount is greater, £1.1m compared with £1.036m, as only 37 players were taken to Australia.
More than 70 contracts have been sent out to players in the four home unions who are in contention for a place on the tour, which is expected to cost around £10m, with the squad of 44 due to be announced in less than a month. "I cannot comment on specific figures but the players will be getting more in both percentage and real terms than last time," said the Lions' chief executive John Feehan. "The contracts are offered on a take-it-or-leave-it basis and everyone will receive the same, regardless of whether they play in the Tests."
The contracts were drawn up in consultation with Damien Hopley, chief executive of the Professional Rugby Players' Association. The guaranteed salary for those who survive the whole tour is the equivalent of £120,000 a year, less than virtually all the England internationals earn with their clubs.
The Wales players who appear in every round of the Six Nations this year will get £25,000 if they secure the grand slam but the average salary in the country is less than £100,000, though the four-year deal secured by Gavin Henson with Neath-Swansea Ospreys this month is believed to be worth £750,000.