The first standard contracts in the history of Welsh rugby were agreed where teams were allowed to begin re-signing players

“This is an important step forward in our process which will secure a sustainable future for the professional game in Wales,” said Professional Rugby Board Chairman Malcolm Wall.

The four professional regions of Wales have been allowed to officially begin re-signing players after agreeing to the first standard contracts in the history of Welsh rugby.

The Professional Rugby Board and Welsh Rugby Players’ Association have presented the standard contracts to several players and their agents over the last day which will make existing and new offers legally binding.

The players had threatened strike action ahead of the Six Nations Championship match against England last month amid contractual uncertainty dating back to last summer.

Cardiff, Dragons, Osprey and Scarlets have only been allowed to submit oral offers in recent weeks.

The WRU said Rugby Management Board (RMB) and PRB members had completed a “significant amount of work” on contract and rights licensing, and were formally accepted by the Welsh Rugby Players’ Association (WRPA) and players’ agents on Friday.

“This is an important step forward in our process which will secure a sustainable future for the professional game in Wales,” said PRB boss Malcolm Wall.

“We have put in a lot of hard work to get us to this point and we are happy to say that our four professional parties are now in a position to provide legally binding contracts as necessary.

“We remain very grateful to the players themselves for their patience and understanding and now look forward to the point where the full agreement underpinning PRB’s strategy for the future of the game can be signed – a moment this latest development is proving closer now than ever.”

“A great deal of credit must also go to the managers in each of our professional teams in ensuring we reached this crucial and pivotal stage of the game in Wales.”