Lam fears impact of lockdown
BRISTOL boss Pat Lam has voiced concerns for the Gallagher Premiership if another national lockdown happens.
And Lam has described the Premier League’s decision to keep playing through the Christmas and New Year period as “an important one for rugby as well”.
All sport in Wales will go behind closed doors from Boxing Day as part of Welsh Government attempts to help control spread of the new coronavirus variant Omicron.
Welsh derby rugby matches in the United Rugby Championship are among those affected, although the Premiership is currently unscathed ahead of a busy festive timetable.
English rugby’s blue riband domestic competition was severely disrupted during lockdown last year, having to restart in August behind closed doors after being halted five months earlier.
Asked if the Premiership could survive in the event of another lockdown, former Newcastle Falcons star Lam said: “I don’t think so.
“People look at us (Bristol) and think ‘they have got Steve Lansdown, a billionaire’ but what people tend to forget is we don’t have what Steve is worth.
“Steve has put in his time here close to £80million of his own money into Bristol rugby, and that is a lot of money.
“You have to be asking questions as you go through. What do we get for winning the Champions Cup? What do you get for winning the Premiership?
“The last few years, as a team we have brought in a lot of revenue and our revenue has gone up. But as far as central funding, as far as the television deals, everything, that is having an effect.
“We have a fantastic product. Professional rugby is a great game, but the reality is there are a lot of wealthy people who are losing money.
“I don’t mean to be all doom and gloom, but this is not as cosy as people think.”