Handouts will be capped at a certain amount,believed to be in the ballpark of $16 million in the first phase.
Combined with RA's internal cost-cutting,Super Rugby stand downs and an expected six-month pay deal with the players,it is expected to help RA bridge the gap between Super Rugby's March shut down and the resumption of Test or provincial rugby. RA and the other major professional codes will also look to federal and state governments for help,with a recognition a sport-wide relief package is still some months off.
The major catch is that RA will not be allowed to apply to access World Rugby's relief fund until it has secured the player pay deal,putting extra pressure on RA and the Rugby Union Players Association to finalise their negotiations,which were well into their third week.
The deal is expected to be finalised on Friday,with the country's 192 professional players expected to cop an average 65 per cent wage cut for a six-month period,backdated to the start of April.
Australia's highest-paid players are expected to shoulder the biggest cuts,in a player-driven effort to shield the game's lowest earners,theHerald reported on Thursday.
Negotiations stretched on as New Zealand Rugby confirmed its top players,including All Blacks,would have theirincome slashed by 50 per cent for the remainder of the year if there was no rugby played in 2020.
RA is understood to be confident some form of domestic competition will be played in the third quarter of the year,with the potential for New Zealand v Australia Test matches in the fourth quarter.