Thursday 24 September 2020 21:27, UK
Leicester chairman Peter Tom expects Gallagher Premiership clubs to fold as a result of new restrictions on crowds that also threaten the future of English professional rugby.
A telephone meeting of the top-flight's chairmen was held on Thursday morning to discuss a way through a crisis that has been renewed by government guidelines preventing fans from attending matches for up to six months.
For all the unified purpose in ensuring clubs and the league survive a second wave of the coronavirus pandemic, Tom admits the outlook is bleak.
"This is a disaster for Premiership Rugby and all the clubs involved," said Tom.
I believe Premiership clubs will go out of business. The whole of the Premiership would be threatened.
"I'm very worried about what the future for English professional rugby is. Nobody will be able to sustain this.
"Adjustments have been made to players' salaries and other cuts have been made, but if we have to go another six to nine months like this, it will be absolutely devastating.
"I believe Premiership clubs will go out of business. The whole of the Premiership would be threatened.
"Certain clubs have a different structure in the shape of an owner with lots and lots of money. But for the rest, these are brutal times.
"Myself and the board have two clear objectives - the survival of Leicester Tigers and improve our performance on the pitch."
Premiership Rugby and the Rugby Football Union have applied for government bailouts and while Oliver Dowden, the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, has indicated support will be offered, it is unknown what form this will take.
Even for a club of Leicester's size, the finances are severely stretched after £500,000 was paid back to season-ticket holders two weeks ago and £1.6m to £2m lost on having to stage four home games behind closed doors.
And with the RFU also being hit hard by the absence of spectators for the Autumn Nations Cup and Six Nations games, there could be a reduction in funding from Twickenham.
"We were early in realising the consequences in March and April. We had the public fallout with four of the players and we had to make 30-plus people redundant," Tom said.
"We were starting to feel more confident, but now we're having to completely rethink what we do.
"We came into this in a pretty strong financial position because we put the CVC money back into the business.
"Some fans may come under pressure financially because of job losses and things like that, so we have to assume we'll lose season-ticket money as well.
"We're in as good position as anyone to get through this - except for the clubs with owners who have lots of money - but it will be brutal."
Tom's grim forecast has been echoed across the Premiership with Worcester owners Colin Goldring and Jason Whittingham revealing the Warriors are facing potentially ruinous losses.
"Playing matches behind closed doors for another six months is clearly not sustainable for this club nor for the Premiership as a whole," a statement read.
"The additional loss of our events business puts further pressure on our chances for financial survival.
"Without revenue generated on matchdays from crowds, sponsors and their associated spend, Warriors and all professional sports clubs cannot hope to be sustainable without significant support.
"At the moment we do not know, even if it does arrive, what that support might look like.
"Until we have that clarity it is impossible for us to know what the future of professional rugby in England looks like."
There will be no community rugby in England until January 2021 at the earliest.
The RFU Governance Committee have decided that, with the exception of the Premiership, Championship and Premier 15s, no organised RFU or non-RFU leagues will be played.
A statement read: "With the increased uncertainly caused by Government's additional restrictions to curb the increase in Covid-19 cases across the country, the decision has been made so that we can provide clubs with some certainty over the next few months.
"The rugby community can continue to organise non-contact fixtures with other clubs using Ready4Rugby and other touch rugby activity. Limited and restricted contact rugby training can also be continued."
The RFU says it continues to be in active dialogue with government about moving to Stage E on the return to rugby roadmap. Should it reach that point at any time before Christmas, competitive friendly matches could commence.
RFU president Jeff Blackett said: "We are very keen to see competitive rugby being played again. However, given the introduction of further restrictions to curb the increase in Covid-19 cases, we will not be able to move to Stage F on the roadmap until a later date.
"This announcement gives clubs clarity over the immediate term to help them with their planning. We will continue to liaise with the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport and Public Health England to accelerate a return to competitive play as soon as it is safe to do so."
