SM
Brighton vs. Man City: 6 hrs 51 mins
Upcoming predictions and previews

Scotland

SRU hopeful fans could return in time for autumn internationals

:Headline: SRU hopeful fans could return in time for autumn internationals: ID:402166: from db_amp
The number of fans could range from 10,000 to 30,000 depending on social-distancing guidelines.

Scottish Rugby Union chief executive Mark Dodson is hopeful crowds will gather at BT Murrayfield to watch autumn internationals after a date was set for a return to training.

Scotland's professional players can train individually on June 22, provided the country moves into the second phase of the easing of lockdown restrictions before then.

Further discussions with the Scottish Government have given the SRU some encouragement that some level of crowds will be allowed for Scotland games, whoever they might be against.

The SRU estimates little more than 10,000 would be allowed into Murrayfield under two-metre physical distancing rules but a relaxation could allow about 30,000 in.

Mark Dodson is optimistic about crowds (PA)

Dodson admitted matches against the other home nations could be the likeliest scenario amid ongoing doubt over whether New Zealand, Argentina and Japan will visit Edinburgh in November.

Dodson said: "The issue around the autumn Tests is crucial to us. The reason everyone is talking so much about social distancing from two metres to 1.5m to 1m to zero is that it has a significant impact on how many tickets we can sell, how many people can come through the door and enjoy whatever Test schedule we can put forward.

"From where we stand at the moment, our presumption is that those Tests will go ahead behind closed doors until we are told different from Government.

"We're working really closely with the Scottish Government – I'm talking to them all the time about what the parameters are for live sport. We are hopeful that we'll be able to play with crowds for the autumn schedule but we're not convinced and we've budgeted for the worst-case scenario."

Scotland are due to face Japan in November (PA)

Dodson added: "You've got a situation where everyone is at different points in the proposals. Inter-hemisphere rugby in the autumn is by no means a certainty.

"What we've got to find out is how the pandemic moves and as soon as we get clarity around that, it will give us certainty around what we can and can't do, but we're working on a number of scenarios.

"The more we can stick to the original schedule, the better. We're modelling all kinds of scenarios with our Six Nations colleagues to make sure can put some kind of Autumn Tests on. The problem with the lack of certainty is that you have to plan several iterations and take those to broadcasters to see if they are attractive.

"We're looking at what's easiest to develop and that may mean playing against the home nations given their proximity and the fact you would hopefully get more certainty around playing those games.

"It's under consideration – it wouldn't be a Six Nations but it would be a competition with the home nations and potentially Six Nations countries."

Scotland are set to face Wales in Cardiff (PA)

Scotland's final Guinness Six Nations clash in Wales was postponed with 24 hours' notice and there could be another game against Wales on top of the rearranged contest later this year.

"I'm very hopeful that we will be able to finish this year's Six Nations in the autumn," Dodson said. "It's important to everyone, and to the tournament itself."

Dodson admits the prospect of continuing restrictions next year would be a serious concern.

"We're very hopeful we can have crowds at the Six Nations and have a more normal Six Nations because the idea of having it behind closed doors, or not at all, then we're in a different world and a different level of fragility in terms of the finances," he said.

"We told you that takes us into the sphere of £40million losses and that's a different scenario."

With the new training schedule confirmed, the SRU is hopeful that rugby can return in late August or soon afterwards.

Glasgow and Edinburgh players will train at Murrayfield and could face each other there in the first game back.

"We've got to try and look at the way the PRO14 restarts," Dodson said. "The most obvious one is having two teams in the same country playing in a safe environment."

amp_article__402166 : Database Data restored...  : 
last updated article - 2020-06-11 17:16:11:
html db last update - 2021-03-01 15:30:33 :

ex - 7200 : read : read cache amp html

Click here for more stories about Mark Dodson

Click here for more stories about Scotland

Share this article now:
Read more about Mark Dodson Rugby Union
Recommended Next on SM
Premier League Table
TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1Arsenal34245582265677
2Liverpool34228475344174
3Manchester CityMan City32227376324473
4Aston Villa34206871502166
5Tottenham HotspurSpurs32186865491660
6Manchester UnitedMan Utd33165125150153
7Newcastle UnitedNewcastle331551369541550
8West Ham UnitedWest Ham34139125463-948
9Chelsea32138116157447
10Bournemouth34129134960-1145
11Brighton & Hove AlbionBrighton321111105250244
12Wolverhampton WanderersWolves34127154654-843
13Fulham34126165054-442
14Crystal Palace34109154456-1239
15Brentford3498175259-735
16Everton34118153648-1233
17Nottingham ForestNott'm Forest3479184260-1826
18Luton TownLuton3467214775-2825
19Burnley3458213769-3223
20Sheffield UnitedSheff Utd3437243392-5916
Scroll for more - Tap for full version


Sports Mole provides in-depth previews and predictions for every match from the biggest leagues and competitions in world football.
AL
Sign up for our FREE daily preview newsletter direct to your inbox!

Loading ...

Failed to load data.



. . . . . . . . . . . . . . .