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'Probably the overall damage is in the region of £1billion': World Rugby's grim lost revenue forecast
World Rugby chief executive Alan Gilpin estimates the sport has taken a £1billion hit in lost revenue due to the coronavirus pandemic. Gilpin was speaking as World Rugby outlined a four-year strategic plan until 2025 that includes tackling what he describes as “the three Cs of Covid, calendar and concussion”.
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The international, club and community games were put on hold last year due to Covid-19 and Gilpin said: “We think from the work we have done over the last six to nine months through our member national unions that probably the overall damage is in the region of £1billion.
“We say that because we’ve worked, obviously, at the elite level of the game to understand the impacts of Covid and huge revenue drop-off have had. We don’t know, of course, what the damage really is in the community game and I don’t think probably anyone does at this stage.
“What we have seen in countries that are starting to open up in the community is that players young and old are flooding back to rugby clubs in almost record numbers. We really need and hope that happens around the world and people get back to the sport quickly, then I think we can all move forward and be successful. I don’t think we have got any predictions on how long it will take.
“But what we do need to do – and are committed to doing – is working really hard throughout every stakeholder level of the game to make sure we get back to the types of participation numbers we had across the game pre-Covid, the types of audience engagement numbers we had, and then build on that.
Looking swell, Sam Warburton?https://t.co/V00PyLhrig
— RugbyPass (@RugbyPass) April 21, 2021
“The past year has presented huge challenges. The pandemic has forced us to abort community rugby across the globe, it’s led to unprecedented disruption for the elite game and has created huge financial strain on our national member unions, on professional clubs and leagues across the world. As an organisation, a sport and a family, this plan will guide how we tackle the three Cs of Covid, calendar and concussion, and build the foundations for a safer, stronger and more sustainable game for all.”
Continued tackling of concussion is at the forefront, and Gilpin pledged engagement with the likes of Progressive Rugby, a new lobby group calling for urgent reform in the sport. England World Cup winner Steve Thompson is among a group of former players suffering early-onset dementia symptoms who are preparing lawsuits against rugby’s top governing bodies.
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Gilpin added: “Over the last year, we have heard the brave stories and testimonies of former players who have come forward and talked about their struggles with dementia. We are very proud of those players who have shared those experiences. They are part of the rugby family, and we will always stand with them.
“We want to hear all voices from across rugby. We will listen to the players, we will speak to the groups like Progressive Rugby. We have already spoken with several of their members, and we will continue to have an ongoing dialogue with them. We all share that same vision to create a safer, more sustainable game which future generations can enjoy.”
The strategic plan concentrates on four key areas – competition, participation, engagement and the game itself – as it aims to lead rugby beyond the coronavirus pandemic. World Rugby says that player welfare “continues to be the number one priority” and will continue to lead targeted research to inform and advance injury prevention and mental well-being and drive player welfare-centred law review and trials to further protect players at all levels of the game.
In terms of competitions, World Rugby said: “In partnership with rugby’s stakeholders, World Rugby will facilitate discussions and seek to develop a more compelling competition structure and unified approach to Test rugby within the July and November windows. Game-changing targets include the launch of new men’s and women’s emerging nations competitions by 2022 to boost high-performance competition opportunities, as well as a revamped sevens rugby eco-system.”
The RFU's verdict on Jones is as popular as football's European Super League plan https://t.co/XRPtOe90la
— RugbyPass (@RugbyPass) April 20, 2021
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Comments on RugbyPass
No surprise there. How hard can it be to pick a ball off the ground and chuck it to a mate? 😂
2 Go to commentsSometimes people just like a moan mate!
1 Go to commentsexcellent idea ! rugby needs this 💪
9 Go to comments9 Brumbies! What a joke! The best performing team in Oz! Ditch Skelton for Swain or Neville. Ryan Lonergan ahead of McDermott any day! Best selection bolter is Toole … amazing player
12 Go to commentsI like this, but ultimately rugby already has enough trophies. Trying to make more games “consequential" might prove to be a fools errand, although this is a less bad idea than some others. Minor quibble with the title of the article; it isn’t very meaningful to say the boks are the unofficial world champions when it would be functionally impossible for the Raeburn trophy not to be held by the world champions. There’s a period of a few months every 4 years when there is no “unofficial” world champion, and the Raeburn trophy is held by the actual world champions.
9 Go to commentsIts a great idea but one that I dont think will have a lot of traction. It will depend on the prestige that they each hold but if you can do that it would be great. When Japan beat the Boks (my team) I was absolutely devestated but I wont deny the great game they played that day. We were outclassed and it was one of the best games of rugby I have seen. Using an idea like this you might just give the the underdog teams more of an opportunity to beat the big teams and I can absolutely see it being a brilliant display of rugby. They beat us because they planned for that game. It was a great moment for Japan. This way we can remove the 4 year wait and give teams something to aim for outside of World Cup years.
9 Go to commentsHi, Dave here. Happy to answer questions 🥰
9 Go to commentsDon’t think that headline is accurate. It’s great to see Aus doing better but I’m not sure they’ve shown much threat to the top of the table. They shouldn’t be inflating wins against the lousy Highlanders and Crusaders either.
3 Go to commentsSuch a shame Roigard and Aumua picked up long term injuries, probably the two form players in the comp. Also, pretty sure Clarke Dermody isn’t their coach. Got it half right though.
3 Go to commentsOh the Aussie media, they never learn. At least Andrew Kellaway is like “Woah, yeah it’s great, but settle down there guys” having endured years of the Aussie media, fans, and often their players getting ahead of themselves only to fall flat on their faces. Have the “We'll win the Bledisloe for sure this year!” headlines started yet? It’s simple to see what’s going on. The Aussie teams are settled, they didn't lose any of their major players overseas. The Crusaders and Chiefs lost key experienced All Blacks, and Razor in the Crusaders case, and clearly neither are anywhere near as strong as last year (The Canes and Blues would probably be 3rd & 4th if they were). The Highlanders are annually average, even more so post-Aaron Smith and a big squad clean out. The two teams at the top? The two nz sides with largely the same settled roster as last year, except Ardie Savea for the Canes. They’ve both got far better coaches now too. If the Aussies are going to win the title, this is the year the kiwi sides will be weakest, so they better take their chance.
3 Go to commentsThe World Cup has to be the gold standard, line in the sand. 113 teams compete for what is the opportunity to make the pool stages, and then the knockout games for the trophy. The concept is sound. This must have been the rationale when the World Cup was created, surely? But I’m all for Looking forward and finding new ways for the SH to dominate the NH into the future. The autumn series needs a change up. Let’s start by having the NH teams come south every odd year for the Autumn/Spring series games?
9 Go to commentsWhat’ll happen when the AI models of the future go back in time and try to destroy the AI models of the past standing in their way of certain victory?
41 Go to commentsThanks, Nick. We (Seanny Maloney, Brett and I) just discussed Charlie as a potential Wallaby No 8, and wondered if he has truly realised how big he is in contact (and whether he can add 5 kg w/o slowing down). Your scouting report confirms our suspicions he has the materiel. No one knows if he has the mentality (as Johann van Graan said this week about CJ, Duane and Alfie B) to carry 10-15 times a game.
57 Go to commentsHe would be a great player for the Stormers, Dobbo should approach the guy.
3 Go to commentsGood article. A few years back when he was playing for the Cheetahs, he was a quiet standout for exactly the seasons stated here. I occasionally get to see his games in the UK, and he has become a more complete player and in many ways like an Irish player. His work ethic is so suitable to the Leinster game. I wonder if Rassie would have him listed somewhere.
3 Go to commentsResults probably skewed by the fact that a few clubs have foreign fly halves in their 30s, but most teams have young English scrum halves. Results also likely to be skewed by the fact that many teams rely on centres and fullbacks to provide depth at 10, whereas they will need to stock a large number of specialist backup 9s.
2 Go to commentsI really get the sense that when all is said and done, the path of least resistance will end up being a merger of Wasps & Worcester that essentially kills the Worcester Warriors brand and sees Wasps permanently playing at Sixways. I’m not saying that’s what should happen or what I want to happen. I just think it’s the easiest rout to take and therefore, will be what happens. Wasps will definitely return to play first, and I suppose it all depends on if they can find support at Sixways. If people turn up and support Wasps in that community, at that ground, I bet they drop the Sevenoaks plan and just remain at Sixways. Under the radar but not totally unrelated, it looks as though London Irish are going to be brought back from the dead by a German consortium and look set to return, likely to the remade Championship. It’s set to have 12 clubs next season with 14 in 2025/26, what do you want to bet those extra 2 are Wasps and London Irish?
3 Go to commentsThe shoulder is a “joint” with multiple bones. You don’t “fracture” a shoulder, you fracture any one or more of the bones that make up a shoulder.
2 Go to commentsOh dear, bones too suspect to continue?
2 Go to commentsBold headline considering the Canes and Blues are 1 and 2 and the Brumbies were soundly beaten by the Chiefs and Blues. Biggest surprise is Rebels 4 Crusaders 12 - no one saw that coming. If Aus are improving that’s great 👍
3 Go to comments