Boris and his Government must save English rugby - Andy Goode
There have been measures, such as the furlough scheme, which have helped the sport get through to this point, but it is now on a precipice and sports minister Nigel Huddleston should be looking at doing more rather than telling English rugby to look at ways it can support itself.
A lot of different owners are speaking out and there are numerous different figures flying around, but estimates suggest the Premiership clubs have lost as much as £70million between them in the six months since March.
It has to be pointed out that these English rugby clubs were losing money hand over fist anyway and that isn’t all as a result of coronavirus. But if Exeter are losing £1m per month and the absence of fans is costing Wasps £500,000 per month, clearly that isn’t sustainable for very long at all.
Almost all of the top clubs are reliant on wealthy benefactors and how long is it really going to be before a few of them decide that they don’t want to keep putting their hands in their pockets and footing the bill with little prospect of things improving?
There will never be another Twickers prawn sandwich for BoJo if Ugo gets his way ?https://t.co/2CdGUZ3Xpw
— RugbyPass (@RugbyPass) September 24, 2020
It only takes a few to pull out and the sport in this country is in huge trouble. The government should recognise how important this is and put a package of support together, even if that means loans that can be paid back over a long period rather than grants.
The problem goes right to the top with the RFU, assumed by many to be hugely wealthy, struggling financially. So much so that it reportedly still wanted to charge Premiership Rugby £500k to stage the Premiership final at Twickenham, despite there being no fans in attendance on October 24.
It isn’t just rugby that is in serious trouble, it’s other sports as well. The average person on the street probably sees all professional sports as having lots of money floating around and thinks they will be alright, but that simply isn’t the case.
There are those who are completely unsympathetic to the Premiership clubs’ plight and say that they have squandered money unnecessarily on player wages and spent beyond their means so why should they receive government help, but you have to see the bigger picture.
It is probably a reality, though, that if the clubs don’t receive help in the form of financial support or fans being allowed back in sooner rather than later, they will be forced to go back to their players and ask them to take further cuts in order to ensure they have jobs in a year’s time.
Much has been spoken about the possibility of Premiership clubs going bust, but grassroots clubs are arguably in an even worse state and we’re talking about the whole game going bust or a significant chunk of it. Lower league and amateur clubs in football are struggling but rugby isn’t even comparable to the round ball game and it’s easy for those outside the sport to underestimate just how perilous the situation is for them.
Below the Championship there is now no prospect of leagues starting up again before January and it could be longer – that is extremely damaging for a lot of people’s mental and physical health as well as clubs’ finances. Everyone has sympathy for the unenviable situation the government finds itself in whereby funds are clearly not unlimited and it has to be asking where you stop when it comes to handing out packages of financial support.
The arts have been supported in different ways and there has been a lot of focus on pubs and restaurants as we know. Sport at all levels now needs help and now is the time for the government to intervene and do its bit to ensure that the benefits of it are still there for all in the years to come.
Clubs at all levels are businesses and a lack of fans in the stadium means money lost in ticket revenue, food and drink sales, sponsorship, hospitality, sales in the club shop and much more. Obviously, getting fans back in grounds somehow would be the ideal solution and it’s a fair gripe that a lot of people have when they question why sports stadiums remain closed to the public but pubs and restaurants are open again.
It doesn’t look like the government is going to change its mind on that, though, and suggestions that testing might be able to be done on the gate and turned around in double-quick time seems a bit far-fetched because of the money involved if nothing else. So, that leaves the sport needing financial aid.
It’s a relief that the top clubs have all made it to this point without going to the wall because there was a genuine fear that one or two might have done already by now. But it’s hard to see them all surviving another six months of more of the same. The game needs help and the benefits it brings to society, the economy and people’s mental and physical health mean it’s worthy of the government’s support in its time of need.
Grim outlook https://t.co/S8Mtjx2EGW
— RugbyPass (@RugbyPass) September 25, 2020
Comments on RugbyPass
$950k for a Prop that isn’t fit enough to play 10 mins of rugby? Surely there is someone better to replace Big Mike with
2 Go to commentsFour Kiwis in that backline. A solid statement on the lack of invention, risk-taking and joy in the NH game; game of attrition and head- banging tedium. Longterm medical problems aplenty in the future!
1 Go to commentsGood article, I learnt quite a lot. A big sliding door moment was in the mid 00s when they rejected Steve Anderson's long term transformation and he wrote Ireland's strategy instead.
2 Go to commentsHi Dr Nick! I'm worried that I've started to enjoy watching England and have actually wanted them to win their last two games. What would you prescribe? On a more serious note, I've noticed that the standard of play in March is often better than early February. Do you think this is because of the weather or because the players have been together for longer?
10 Go to commentsMy question in all this brett is who is going to wear the consequences of these actions? Surely just getting the sack isn’t sufficient? A teenager working the till at woolies would probably get taken to court if they took $20 out of the till. You mean to tell me that someone can spend $2.6 million and get away with it? Where was it spent? What companies/people were the beneficiaries etc? How is it just being talked about as an ‘oopsie’ and we all just move on and not a matter of the court for gross negligence, fraud, take your pick…
18 Go to commentslove Manu too but England have relied on him coming back from injury for far too long and not sorted the position with someone else long term . It will be a blessing he has gone . Huge shame he was so injury prone . God speed Manu .
3 Go to commentsI agree with Ben Smith about Brett Cameron. The No. 6 position has to be a monster and a genuine lineout option, like Ollivon, Lawes (now Chessum), Du Toit, etc. The only player who fits that bill right now is Scott Barrett. A fit and fizzing Tuipolotu together with one of the young towers, Sam Darry or Josh Lord, would give Razor the freedom to play Barret at 6.
16 Go to commentsOutstanding article, Graham. Agree with all of it. And enjoy the style of writing too (particularly Grand Slap!).
2 Go to commentsI wouldn't pay a cent for that loafer. He just stands around, waiting for play to come his way. He won't make the Wallabies.
2 Go to commentsGood bit of te reo maori Nic. Or is that Niko or Nikora? On the theme of trees the Oaks v Totara. Game plan would be key. I have one but it would cost you.
10 Go to comments> Shaun Edwards’ You should not have to score 30 points to win a game, as exciting as it is. This statement was surprising to me. It is nonsensical .I guess it is a defence coach speaking. But head coach, defence and attacking coaches all work together. They are inseparable. You score more than the opposition to win. It only needs to be one score. You score whatever the game demands, whatever the opposition demand. You defend whatever it takes. The attack coach needs to be able to clock up 30pts if need be.
10 Go to commentsWho’d have thought, not having Farrell & Youngs kicking the ball at every possible opportunity and playing flat and allowing your centres to run and pass would pay off? No one could possibly have seen this coming. FML. It took a LONG time coming but at least that time has finally come. England need to find a backup to Lawrence. Freeman is the best candidate for me, I see no reason why he can't play 12. He's big, strong, fast and has great hands.
10 Go to commentsLove Manu but he's not the player he was and I imagine Bayonne have paid too much money for him.
3 Go to commentsNew Zealand have not beaten England since 2018 and even that was a pretty close shave.
1 Go to comments“a renewed focus on Scottish-qualified players” Scottish-qualified is another way of saying English. England has development more players for the Scotland national Rugby team in the last 4 years, than Scotland has.
2 Go to commentsThis sounds a lot like the old Welsh rugby proverb “Wales never lose. Other teams just score more points.”
5 Go to commentsFinally,at last, Borthwick has done what the whole of England have been crying out for. Ditch the kick chase and let the players have freedom to attack and run with the ball. It was great to see. Ford played really well and for the first time in ages was 5 yards closer to the gainline which then allowed a more attacking position . Pity it has taken 90 odd caps to do so. However, this has to continue and not be a false dawn . One issue. Marcus. With Ford having one really good game in 5 ,is he the answer long term . Smith puts bums on seats and is terrific to watch . How can you leave him out before he departs for France in disillusion . England are in danger of Simmons , Alex Goode , Cipriani , Mercer and now Smith being unable to get a selection ahead of “favourites” of the management regardless of form . Great to see England play so well .
2 Go to commentsCockerill was an abrasive player in the mould of a Georgian front rower who will have the respect of that pack. Looking forward to seeing what he can do with this exciting team, hopefully they can send a message to unions like Wales that money alone doesn't buy you wins.
2 Go to commentsI like the look of those July matches. Hopefully they'll get some good tests in November too.
2 Go to commentsThis is a poor article, essentially just trolling six nations teams
22 Go to comments