Rugby Australia is asking its professional players to take a 65 per cent pay cut for the next six months as the game's warring parties continue to search for an agreement on wages to see the sport through the coronavirus shutdown.

RA made the offer in response to the players' request for any wages sacrificed to be deferred and held in a trust, controlled by the players, with a portion set aside and redirected into community rugby.

Two-thirds: Rugby Australia is proposing Australia's professional players take a 65 per cent pay cut for the next six months. Credit:Getty

The players union also asked for players to be allowed to break their contracts and play elsewhere if they did not want to accept an agreed pay cut.

RA rejected both proposals and countered with a 65 per cent cut until the end of September. It is significantly lower than the NRL's 75 per cent reduction for the length of the shutdown and netball's 70 per cent pay cut - to wages significantly lower to start with. AFL players have agreed a 50 per cent cut until the end of May.