We have big holes to Phil

warned that there will be €15-20m loss of revenue if the postponed final two rounds of the 2020 Six Nations don’t go ahead – and a €30m loss if the 2021 tournament is also ruled out.

But even if the Test matches go ahead behind closed doors, huge losses will still occur of €10-15m this year and €16m in 2021.

“Behind closed doors is not going to resolve the financial difficulty that we face into,” admitted Browne.

“Some of the cash we’re using is actually cash which would have been effectively from the next 10 years – in other words, any monies that would’ve been received around premium seats. We’re spending tomorrow’s money today in order to keep afloat.

“Fundamentally, what we’re going to have to do is adjust our cost base. There’s no way around that.

“There’s going to end up being a pretty severe market adjustment within professional rugby around the world.”

But Browne, the IRFU and the provinces hope that the light at the end of the tunnel is their return to play target.

Interpros will go ahead at the Aviva Stadium if the green light comes from the government.

The PRO14 has pencilled in a return on that weekend, with a set of derbies in each of the jurisdictions, followed by semifinals and a final.

EPCR are looking at staging Champions Cup quarter-finals – with Leinster and Ulster (above) still involved – semi-finals and a final in that period.

Yesterday, the IRFU did pocket an instant £5m of the £30m it will gain from the PRO14’S tie-in with CVC Capital Partners.

Yet Browne confessed: “We have hit a revenue cliff, there is no revenue coming into the provinces of any material amount and the IRFU’S revenues have dried up.

“What we have to do is get back playing competitive revenuegenerating matches as soon as we possibly can.

“Our cash is likely to run out in a matter of months if we don’t get revenue-generating fixtures.”