UNLESS you are a politician the chances are that you haven't had a wage increase for a few years.

If you are lucky enough to have been given a raise then it probably hasn't kept up with inflation.

That might be hard to swallow but most of us are just thankful to have a job, after all, it's a tough economic climate.

But rugby cannot operate in the same way.

Last week the Welsh Rugby Union made another move to introduce central contracts, albeit temporarily amid the uncertainty over European competition.

They offered to hand deals to stars such as Sam Warburton, Leigh Halfpenny, Jonathan Davies and Alun Wyn Jones, who are all free agents at the end of the season.

Then, once the rumpus of the Rugby Champions Cup is sorted, they would hand the contracts back to the regions.

A statement read: "The WRU has committed more than £33 million to the four Welsh regions over the course of the next five years to retain players in Wales, in addition to all of the Welsh revenues generated from the RaboDirect and any future European competition.

"The WRU is prepared to draw down from this £33 million investment immediately to secure the future of outstanding Welsh talent for Wales and assist the regions."

On the face of it the offer is a generous one.

But that £33million is no increase in terms of money given for use of international players – seniors, under-20s and sevens – through the current participation agreement.

That is despite the financial clout of the French clubs that have lured Dan Lydiate, Luke Charteris, Jamie Roberts, James Hook, Lee Bryne and Mike Phillips* over the the Channel.

If the WRU were to pen deals with Warburton et al then it would leave the regions having to pick up contracts that they cannot afford, which would leave less in the pot to fill the rest of the squad.

Big-spending clubs in the Top 14 and Aviva Premiership have changed the financial landscape of rugby and the Union need to acknowledge that when it comes to a new participation agreement.

Rather than offering a deal that won't stretch as far thanks to inflation they need to put one on the table that will give the regions a fighting chance in 2018.

In 2012 Newport Gwent Dragons offered Aled Brew, a fringe player with Wales, a considerable wage increase to stay at Rodney Parade only for their offer to be blown out of the water by Biarritz.

The regions are unable to blame the bankers while offering their workforce the same terms and expecting them to stay.