SRU weigh up cost of empty seats

RUGBY chiefs are growing increasingly concerned that fans will not be back in time for this Autumn’s international matches. The fixtures for the new eight-team Autumn Nations Cup were released yesterday and, while the Tests will help bring in some much-needed television revenue, the continuing restrictions due to the coronavirus crisis leave a huge question mark over the return of crowds. The confirmation that three

of Scotland’s six games through October, November and early December will be played at BT Murrayfield is at least a boost to the SRU, who estimated that if no home games were played they would lose upwards of £20million. However, the governing body have cancelled all season-ticket passes after admitting they simply cannot plan for having fans in attendance. An SRU spokesman said they had offered refunds or priority ticket access for season-ticket holders who were going to attend the original three November matches against Argentina, Japan and New Zealand at BT Murrayfield that were cancelled when Covid-19 took hold. ‘Following the cancellation of the previously scheduled 2020 Autumn Tests and the continuing uncertainty around social distancing guidelines (which may possibly affect 2021 Six Nations crowd capacities), Scottish Rugby has cancelled all its existing ticket and membership products, including the Scotland Season

Pass, Autumn Test package and Scotland Supporters Club membership,’ confirmed the spokesman. Television money will help ease a fraught financial situation that has seen players and senior SRU executives take pay cuts of between 25 and 30 per cent. Newcomers to the rugby bidding war, Amazon and Sky Sports are the front-runners to win the rights to the Autumn Nations Cup. Although the 2021 Six Nations is still over five months away, the SRU also have concerns over how many fans will be allowed into games during that tournament as well. Anything less than sell-out crowds at home matches against Wales, Ireland and Italy would have a catastrophic effect on the governing body’s finances. At least Scotland rugby fans will have the chance to watch some live international matches over the next few months. Scotland start with a warm-up match against Georgia at BT Murrayfield on Friday, October 23. They then play Wales in a rescheduled 2020 Guinness Six Nations match on Saturday, October 31. Although no venue has been decided, it is likely to be in London as the Welsh national stadium in Cardiff has been used as an emergency hospital during the Covid crisis. The Autumn Nations Cup then starts with Scotland’s opening game away to Italy on Saturday, November 14. The following Sunday — November 22 — they play France at BT Murrayfield, before they finish their group-stage matches with a game against Vern Cotter’s Fiji on Saturday, November 28. The final weekend of matches will be played on Saturday, December 5, with Scotland facing off against the team ranked in their same position in the opposite pool, which includes England, Ireland, Wales

and Georgia. Scotland head coach Gregor Townsend welcomed the return to action of his team, who haven’t played since they beat France in March. ‘This is an important first step on the international stage for all the nations involved,’ he said. ‘The Autumn Nations Cup is a welcome return to Test match rugby and we face some familiar opposition in Italy and France and a chance to host Fiji. Many of their squad we know well through their connections to Glasgow Warriors and Edinburgh. ‘We are very much looking forward to taking on the challenge of this new tournament. Our squad depth will no doubt be tested over the four-week period but we’ve been encouraged by a number of strong individual displays so far this season.’ Meanwhile, Edinburgh’s Richard Cockerill has been named Pro14 coach of the year, with winger Duhan van der Merwe voted players’ player of the season. Edinburgh topped Conference B but lost to Ulster in the play-off semi-finals. ‘I’m happy that it gives everybody recognition at Edinburgh Rugby,’ said Cockerill. ‘We’ve worked hard in the last three years to build what we’re doing and, while it’s always nice to be recognised for an individual award, it’s very much a team effort.’