Titles, cups and relegation up in the air as season ends
and travel an increasing possibility. At the date of the interim suspension, there remained 295 domestic adult male league fixtures outstanding, with additional Cup, Shield and Bowl matches still to be completed (all being at the semi-final stage).
“A number of age-grade competitions had also yet to be completed.
“For comparison, only 15 fixtures remained unplayed during the Foot and Mouth affected season of 2000/01.”
The Union will now attempt to resolve the vexed issue of settling the season’s issues of titles, promotion and relegation. The statement continued: “A process is now underway to consider the implications of the early closure of the season on both league and Cup competitions.
“This process will involve the Championship and Competitions Committees and the Scottish Rugby Council, with the aim to present a recommendation to the Scottish
Rugby Board by the end of the month [March] as to the implications of various options for promotion, relegation and the awarding of league titles. A range of options are being considered in this regard.”
The SRU hopes the 2020/21 season can go ahead as planned, with the earliest possible restart date for contact rugby envisaged as 1 July 2020.
A hardship fund designed to support struggling clubs through the lockdown has now opened for applications.
“A process is now underway to consider the implications of the early closure of the season on both league and cup competitions”
SCOTTISH RUGBY STATEMENT