Remainder of Scottish season axed

The remainder of the Scottish domestic season was last night scrapped in a statement issued by the SRU in response to the coronavirus crisis.

Murrayfield chiefs had initially suspended action until March 29 but it has been decided it is “not a reasonable prospect in a safe and practical timeframe” to resume the campaign.

A £500,000 hardship fund set up to support struggling clubs through the enforced break has now opened for applications.

Scottish Rugby president Dee Bradbury said: “I am extremely grateful to everyone who has contributed this week to enable us to give our clubs this important guidance on the 2019-20 season.

“Given the wider issues in society around Covid-19 we are conscious of the pressure our clubs and their staff will be under and I hope the decision today provides clarity.”

TELEVISION DEAL Move could see Six Nations go behind paywall

The government has rejected the chance to ensure the Guinness Six Nations remains only on free-to-air TV by turning down a call to give the championships Group A status, with the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport committee labelling the decision a “missed opportunity”.

Speculation has been rife in recent weeks that the competition could go behind a paywall – with Sky Sports frontrunners to secure broadcasting rights covering the 2022-24 tournaments – and it resulted in a motion being tabled to Parliament at the start of the month.

Kevin Brennan, MP for Cardiff West, submitted a proposal that was also signed by 11 other Welsh MPs.

He called for the Six Nations to be put in the government’s “Category A” of sporting events, thereby ensuring it will be shown live on free-to-air platforms.

But it will remain in the Group B category, opening the door for Sky Sports to try to secure the broadcasting rights of the Six Nations tournaments after the 2021 edition.