Saints chief calls for rescue plan for clubs
ST Helens chairman Eamonn McManus is calling on the Rugby Football League to implement a rescue plan as clubs prepare for the suspension of the season.
Matches in Super League and the Challenge Cup went ahead at the weekend - with the exception of Leeds’ trip to Catalans Dragons after the RFL decided to follow guidelines set by the Government.
But now the league has been suspended and McManus believes the implications for rugby league could be severe. He said: “We can’t hide away from this.
“If we are looking at a scenario where we’re playing behind closed doors or not playing at all for a period of time, then the financial implications for the clubs and the game are considerable to put it mildly, so we’ve got to work on an action plan which is basically a rescue plan.
“It’s a matter of trying to quantify the liabilities of the clubs, the liabilities of the game, do what we can do to reduce costs over a period of time, both at club level and governing body and central level, and re-schedule the season and see if we can survive this.”
Last Saturday’s game in Perpignan, postponed when Leeds opted not to travel over medical concerns, was due to be played behind closed doors following a French Government ban of mass gatherings. Toronto have effectively shut down their operation after four players displayed signs of the virus and Catalans captain Remi Casty has said he would not have flown to England for Sunday’s game against Wigan.