Wales get a Covid financial lifeline

THE Welsh Rugby Union will receive financial support from Welsh government funding, which is set to be confirmed this week.

It’s estimated each Wales home match brings in about £10million and the WRU believe they have lost more than £50m due to Covid-19. That’s why the government’s ‘spectator fund’ — which both the WRU and the Football Association of Wales will benefit from — is so important.

WRU chief executive Steve Phillips said: ‘I think we’re looking at between £30m and £40m, and that would align with Scotland.’

The WRU’s struggles forced them into taking out a £20m loan from NatWest bank in 2020 and that money has been used to keep afloat Wales’ four regions — Dragons, Cardiff Blues, Ospreys and Scarlets.