Coronavirus has thrown up no end of issues in the game of rugby, no less for the Premiership. In the short term how or if the season should be restarted. In the medium term how to ensure clubs can cope and recover from the pandemic. Finally, in the long-term major questions are being asked about how the sport’s financial model operates.
David Challis will look at also these issues. In the first of a series of articles, the short-term impact will be assessed and potential solutions analysed. The question of the 2019/20 season still hangs in the balance and currently, no one knows the answer.
Many have called for a ‘hard reset’ for rugby and build the game up almost from scratch again. However, as tempting as this is to fantasise and think about hypothetically, the likelihood of this occurring appears increasingly slim. With so many conflicting attitudes and interests at play, even within Premiership Rugby, something close to the status quo could prevail but with a few tweaks
This Season – Will Premiership Rugby Restart?
The first question to consider is if and in what form Premiership Rugby will restart this season. Most clubs will want to see a return to action in some form from a financial standpoint if nothing else. Reports suggest that two or more Premiership clubs seriously struggling and could realistically go under.
This could pressurise Premiership Rugby’s hand to restart the season in the fullest sense possible. Even it compromises next season and player welfare in sense of how many minutes players may be asked to play. Players find themselves in a difficult situation here as they may not wish to play twice a week to finish the season. However, if that means the difference between them receiving their full salary or ensuring their club survives their hand may be forced.
This is an extreme position and it is probably unlikely the season will finish in its entirety. There does not appear to be enough weeks left in the season to do so. However, struggling clubs will be clamouring for some rugby to be played.
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An Abridged Season?
One suggestion is to split the league into three groups of four based on current league position and run playoffs to determine the final league position. This has its advantages in that clubs can get some money in, even if played behind closed doors.
However, Premiership Rugby is likely to encounter some resistance if this model puts a ceiling on where clubs can finish. If Champions Cup rugby is off the table for the bottom clubs then coming to an agreement could be a struggle.
The advantages here seem to outweigh the negatives in that it allows meaningful rugby to be played which will get money in for the clubs and is likely to be achievable before the start of next season. However, no one knows when sport can restart in any sense so much is likely to change as time progresses.
The longer the uncertainty goes on, however, the more jittery struggling clubs will get. This is not to say any clubs will risk players health or break government guidelines. However, the desperation for ruby to take place as soon as is possible is only likely to increase as time goes on.
The Saracens Question
Now, onto the thorniest of problems Premiership Rugby may face in the short term. If reports are to be believed and one or more clubs do not survive this crisis then what of already relegated Saracens?
From a very cynical point of view if I was a Saracens fan one may wish that a club does not survive. That may pave the way for the north-London club to return to the Premiership a year sooner than anticipated. This ties into the question of restarting the Premiership this season. Saracens could move to block any moves to restart if they so choose, putting other clubs at risk.
This is a perhaps a rather conspiracy ridden way of looking at things. However, with a wealthy owner and their fate already sealed for next season, Saracens will be the least interested in restarting this season of all the clubs.
Getting all thirteen clubs and CVC to work together in this crisis on the face of it seems simple. However, as the nuances are teased out the varying attitudes of clubs reveal themselves. Like any decision, it will favour some other clubs more than others meaning reaching a consensus could be a problem. This is especially true in an ever-evolving situation like the one we face.
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