Warren Gatland and Alun Wyn Jones faced the media on Thursday as those inside the Wales camp spoke publicly for the first time since news of potential strike action broke earlier this week.
Jones says it is hard to deny the "very real" possibility of Wales players striking ahead of their Six Nations against England, but explained it is "the very last option" for them. Gatland said he supported players in their battle over contract disputes, but added that he didn't specifically support a strike.
Here's everything the pair said after another hectic week in Welsh rugby...
Are the players willing to play against England?
Warren Gatland: "I think you'll have to talk to Alun Wyn about that. As far as I am concerned I am just preparing for the game and I'm confident that the game will go ahead."
READ MORE: Alun Wyn Jones says strike threat is real as Gatland admits he would not support it
Could the Welsh Rugby Player's Association tell players not to play?
WG: "We understand the frustration of the players that things haven't been sorted out between the union and the regions and PRGB, which is a joint body equally shared by the union and the regions to hopefully get an agreement.
"I am complete supporter of the players in terms of the WRPA which to me in my time here has been incredibly weak as an organisation. I have stressed on a number of occasions to the players that they need to be stronger, they need to have more voice.
"From that regard I think it's a huge positive for the players and that relationship with the union going forward, because they need to be part of the discussions that take place.
"I am sure the players would like things resolved as quickly as possible. These things have been going on for a long time.
"But all I can focus on is concentrating on preparing for the game. That stuff us out of my remit. I am just planning for England next week."
Would you support players if they chose to strike?
WG: "No. I completely support the stance they are taking in terms of wanting to get some resolution about the issues they have.
"But I think there are a lot f things at stake in terms of ensuring that that fixture does take place.
"But like I have said, I am supportive of the players and the things they are trying to do."
How is the mood in the squad amid reports of a player being on anti-depressants?
WG: "I don't know. If that's the case then we are here to support the players as much as we possibly can from an organisation and a management point of view."
Would you expect your medical team to tell you if that was the case?
WG: "Absolutely not. That would be a breach of confidentiality. I would be very unhappy if any of my medical staff breached that confidentiality for any player for whatever medical condition. That would be completely out of line.
"I would be very unhappy with my medical staff for sharing that information, if a player wants to keep that confidential."
The statement from the PRB and WRU said players have been overpaid - how helpful is that to you?
WG: "The players have been great in the last few days. They have got a separate issue they want sorted but when it's come to the rugby, they have been fantastic the way they have prepared in the last few days.
"Obviously there have been ongoing discussions with the union and the PRGB to hopefully get things sorted out.
"You can't blame players for being on contracts and money. If someone come and offers you 30 or 40 grand more than you are now, if your salary goes up to 300 from 260 you are on now, then how can you blame the players for accepting contracts?
"So it's a little disingenuous to say the players are being paid too much. I don't see how it's a fault of theirs.
"The bottom line is that we have been overspending in Wales for a number of years and some of the regions are in financial difficulty. That's the situation."
How concerned are you with what players are going through?
WG: "These guys are not representing the Welsh rugby team. they are representing everybody in Wales and every player in Wales who back at their regions have got uncertain futures.
"There's a huge amount at stake about where the game goes, what goes forward. You know - are we going to have four regions? Are we going to be three regions or two regions?
"That affects a lot of people. A lot of players in the squad, because they are international players, from my regard are probably a little bit more secure than players in regions who currently haven't been offered contracts or who are not sure of their future.
"My understanding is that's what they are fighting for. It's about a collective group of all the players in Wales wanting to get a resolution on the issues being faced."
How are the players finding the current situation?
Alun Wyn Jones: "It is a collective, the game itself and the playing population in Wales at this current time. I would like to thank on behalf of the players the support that has been shown from the public and ex players, particularly in the last 24 hours, because things appear to have come to a head.
"It is just disappointing that as players a lot are caught in in the middle again. It's the perennial conversation about funding, who has what, caught in the middle between the PRB and regions and union. It is disappointing that we are 20 years into regional rugby and it's the same things that have come around again.
"We've had banding systems, project reset, I remember in 2019 we met about potential mergers, and the game has survived all of those things. It has come to a point where people are being affected, there is potential to affect families. This current period has come to a head after 18 months.
"This was supposed to be sorted a long time ago. Even if players who had the opportunity, or might have had the opportunity, to go somewhere else might not get that now because other teams are filling their rosters.
"The players haven't had a voice, whether it be through the WRPA, and decisions have been unilaterally made or we find out from you guys (media) what is happening with people's futures, which isn't ideal in any professional or work environment. That's the disappointing thing, the basic treatment of players and the continued unprofessional nature of dealings."
Are you surprised over the uncertainty still around all these years after you left?
WG: "I think it's a collective responsibility. About the player's association, Alun Wyn will know that, for a number of years, I have stressed to them that you need to be stronger as a group and you need a voice on the PRB.
"You need to be involved on things like the 60-cap rule and how that affects players. Whatever issues there are. It's come to a time where hopefully there'll be a much stronger voice around the table.
"It's disappointing that we've got issues at the moment that are ongoing and we haven't been able to find an agreement over a period. There's been frustrations on both sides and for players, it's finally come to a head."
While players are professional, these things must affect players on a personal level?
AWJ: "We're fortunate that we're involved in a sport and a job we love. To fathom the fact we might not do that because of the severity of the situation is very real, but it's the last thing we want to do.
"I thought Bradley Davies did an excellent piece about the situation. I can tell you every player wants to play rugby. We're fully aware of the privilege that we have, whether that be regional or international, but we can't be under the guillotine and be used in the emotive side of things when ultimately this is a career and a job.
"Again, being caught in the middle and held to ransom at times on other people's issues, with the same people in the region who have issued these contracts now being the ones to try and get out of it, it's hard to fathom, having been involved in the game for such a long time."
So is the possibility of a strike a real one?
AWJ: "I suppose it is. It's hard to deny, but it's the very last option. There are people who are really impassioned. Ultimately, if you treat people badly for long enough, you get to where we find ourselves.
"Again, we realise what we do and how fortunate we are to do it, but if this was any other line of work or any other industry for this period of time with this amount of uncertainty, you'd get the same reaction. We're very respectful to society as a whole. But it comes to a point now where the game in Wales has to make a decision in which way it wants to go."
Is there a degree of sadness it has reached this point?
AWJ: "Very much so. But as Gats said, you don't want to see guys in their early 20s not knowing where their career is going to go. You want to do it in the enjoyment sense in having opportunity and going anywhere, but they're curtailed at the minute with some of the conditions and the unilateral decisions made without negotiation. You're almost boxed in as a player with no option which isn't ideal for anyone."
What will it take in next week to get this sorted?
AWJ: "I think it's Gats' point about having a voice. It's funny, we just want to have an ear in the room to know what's going on. I think that's as good as. Yes we want a voice as well and a discussion about scrapping the 60 cap rule.
"I think that's come out so I'm comfortable in saying that. And obviously the fixed variable part of the contract. We are well aware there are rebalances that need to be made financially and we're fully aware of that, but again it comes down to players being boxed in with their options in terms of the 60 cap rule and the contractual obligations.
"It's ultimately in motion now because dialogue has been had and as players we've voiced our concerns. We've probably done that in more of a messy way than we would have liked to because of certain things in the last 24 or 48 hours but ultimately it's now down to the regions and the union to work on an option.
"Again, as Gats said, speaking on behalf of the playing group of Wales, we just want to play rugby. We want to get back to normal and enjoying our rugby.
There were reports of players walking out of a WRU sponsor event on Wednesday night - what happened there?
AWJ: "We went for the dinner and were present to show face and thank all the sponsors because we've very fortunate to have the sponsors we have with Wales and the regions. A lot of them have kept the game going in Wales for the last 20 years because of the perennial question of funding and where it's going to come from."
Gatland suggested the WRPA had been weak in the past - how have you found them?
AWJ: "I think it's got better year on year. Having been involved on that exec board for a while there were times when those deliverables weren't met. I think now we've got a much better foundation with a CEO that's seemingly in control.
"We have WRPA reps in each region. There is a lot of stuff going on but the WRPA hasn't had the opportunity to have a voice or an ear with PRB on the decisions that affect players."
How do you get to that point?
AWJ: "That was one of the requests that was put in yesterday. We're very comfortable that whoever does go in there has an NDA and stays in there and is only informed of the things we need to know. The disappointing thing is that obviously you guys get to find out a lot more about what goes on in those meetings before we do."
Read more:
Wales rugby team walk out of huge WRU sponsors dinner early in premeditated decision
Munster v Ospreys team news as Wales international's return could interest Gatland
Sam Warburton backs 'shafted' players to strike and claims region close to entering administration
