Wales's players mobilised, threatened to strike, then held their ground against an embattled governing body to claim victory. And yet it all seemed so pyrrhic.
A chastened Nigel Walker and a frustrated, embarrassed Ken Owens stood outside The Vale Resort and aired Wales's dirty laundry. The 'suit' and the 'shop-floor steward', in just about as awkward a juxtaposition as possible.
Hands on hips, red-faced captain Owens branded Wales the "laughing stock" of the rugby world.
Interim Wales Rugby Union chief executive Walker had no argument, and after 10 days of civil war, at least a resolution had been reached to ensure that the country's Six Nations show will go on.
At tea time last night, Walker and Owens confirmed that the WRU had brokered a deal with the Wales players for Saturday's Cardiff clash against England to go ahead as scheduled.
The Wales players should have been relaxing on their day off yesterday. Instead, they spent hours in crisis meetings with WRU chiefs and player representatives.
The players' top demand was risibly reasonable: that the WRU lift the freeze on agreeing new contracts for next season.
This story is from the February 23, 2023 edition of Evening Standard.
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This story is from the February 23, 2023 edition of Evening Standard.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
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