SM
Barcelona vs. Brann: 8 hrs 3 mins
Upcoming predictions and previews

RFU boss fears "catastrophic impact" if shutdown extends to 2021 Six Nations

:Headline: RFU boss fears 'catastrophic impact' if shutdown extends to 2021 Six Nations: ID:398506: from db_amp
Bill Sweeney said the governing body stand to lose £107million if the autumn internationals in November do not go ahead.

Rugby Football Union chief executive Bill Sweeney has described the prospect of the sport being postponed into 2021 as "catastrophic".

Sweeney was giving evidence to the Digital, Culture, Media and Sport committee on Tuesday about the impact of the coronavirus pandemic on sport and said rugby union in England would need a Government bailout if next year's Six Nations could not be played.

"That would be catastrophic, 85 per cent of our income comes form hosting men's international games at Twickenham," he said.

"Twickenham is a major asset for us. When you own a stadium it is a major cost and at the same time brings in large revenue.

"If this was to be prolonged and the Six Nations games were impacted, then it would be a catastrophic impact on rugby union in England. We would be looking at some very severe situations.

"We would like to thank the Government for what was put in place very quickly. If we are one of the last cabs off the rank because of the contact and characteristics, we would need extra help.

"We have 60 per cent of our staff furloughed. If Six Nations matches are off in 2021 then there would be a limit in what we could do and we would have to go to the Government for extra support."

This year's Six Nations is pencilled in to be completed in October and November, with England due to play autumn internationals afterwards.

England's final 2020 Six Nations game against Italy remains postponed, while the Red Rose are scheduled to host New Zealand, Argentina, Tonga and Australia at Twickenham in November.

Sweeney was giving evidence at a DCMS committee hearing (House of Commons/PA)

However, that could still be in doubt and Sweeney says the governing body will lose £107million if they are cancelled.

He said: "If the autumn internationals go ahead in November, which are key for us, we will still lose £32million in revenue.

"If they go ahead but behind closed doors that is a negative impact of £85m and if they are cancelled entirely that will be £107m on top of the £15m we have already lost.

"So it is a very significant loss of revenue and we are doing what we can to mitigate it."

“That would be catastrophic, 85 per cent of our income comes form hosting men's international games at Twickenham.”
- Bill Sweeney

Sweeney, who did not give an update on the two-Test tour of Japan scheduled for July, also said that sport could take up to six years to recover from the financial impact of the crisis.

"Our financial model is strong. Owning Twickenham is good for us and we are not spending money that we don't have to spend," said Sweeney, who along with other senior RFU executives, and England head coach Eddie Jones, has taken a pay cut of 25 per cent.

"We have implemented cost reductions that allowed us to claw back £13m but that has gone now.

"It is not going to be a short-term issue, we are looking at a four-, five-, six-year recovery plan.

"Our financial year ending next month, we are not in a bad situation. If we have no rugby played, it would a £107m loss. We are targeting between £20m-25m in savings."

amp_article__398506 : Database Data restored...  : 
last updated article - 2020-05-05 13:29:58:
html db last update - 2021-03-06 06:06:44 :

ex - 7200 : read : read cache amp html

Coronavirus outbreak - Click here for more stories

Click here for more stories about Bill Sweeney

Share this article now:
Read more about Bill Sweeney Rugby Union
Recommended Next on SM
Premier League Table
TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1Arsenal28204470244664
2Liverpool28197265263964
3Manchester CityMan City28196363283563
4Aston Villa29175760421856
5Tottenham HotspurSpurs28165759421753
6Manchester UnitedMan Utd28152113939047
7West Ham UnitedWest Ham2912894650-444
8Brighton & Hove AlbionBrighton2811985044642
9Wolverhampton WanderersWolves28125114244-241
10Newcastle UnitedNewcastle281241259481140
11Chelsea27116104745239
12Fulham29115134344-138
13Bournemouth2898114152-1135
14Crystal Palace2878133348-1529
15Brentford2975174154-1326
16Everton2887132939-1025
17Luton TownLuton2957174260-1822
18Nottingham ForestNott'm Forest2967163551-1621
19Burnley2945202963-3417
20Sheffield UnitedSheff Utd2835202474-5014
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.



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