Hurricanes getting ready for ‘financial pain’

Hurricanes chief executive Avan Lee addressed his staff yesterday about the ‘‘financial pain’’ in store, as his players prepare to return to training next week in optimistic anticipation of some rugby.

Lee told a press conference at Wellington Rugby’s offices that he expects an announcement on Super Rugby’s immediate future in the next 48 hours, closely followed by details of a planned New Zealand competition between the five franchises.

Whether the latter eventuates depends on the spread of Covid-19 as the Government increases social and travel restrictions, but Lee said a viable plan B was taking shape in an unprecedented scenario for the sport.

For now, Lee couldn’t quantify the potential damage of a cancelled Super Rugby season and, if the situation worsened, no more top-level rugby in New Zealand in 2020.

‘‘The financial impact is something we’re working through. There are clearly different scenarios of what that could look like, from no more rugby through to playing in a domestic competition that satisfies our broadcaster [Sky TV] and major partners,’’ he said.

‘‘There is absolutely going to be some financial pain, we just don’t know to what degree.’’

Asked if it could mean job losses, Lee said: ‘‘At this stage nothing is off the table.’’

As for the players, they continued training this week at their locked down Rugby League Park where Lee is usually based.

The CEO packed up and moved to Wellington Rugby HQ along with non-essential training staff, as the Hurricanes went about their business. They returned to work after flying back from Hamilton where they beat the Chiefs 27-24 to go 4-2 for the season.

‘‘During the day [they’ve been isolated]. We know that’s not perfect but it’s better than having a large number of people congregating with the team during the day.

‘‘We locked the doors on the base in terms of gym, training field, and we’ve taken nonessential staff out of the building. We’ve stopped people coming into the building like courier drivers.

‘‘We’re also working with the players as to what they do outside of work hours, limiting social gatherings. We’re doing what we can within the current environment, a small way of trying to mitigate the risks.’’

All were keen to return to rugby if possible, Lee said. ‘‘At this stage our plan is they come back in the middle of next week to prepare for a game of rugby 10 days or 2-3 weeks later. That’s how we’re operating.’’

Lee was involved in discussions about the mooted new domestic competition which was being driven by New Zealand Rugby and had backing from the Government and the Rugby Players’ Association.

Assuming Super Rugby is canned for the year, details would quickly follow on the new competition which would likely be played in closed stadiums.

‘‘If you follow what’s happening in other sports you’d probably say it’s a TV only product,’’ Lee said.