Gilpin: Covid-related damage to rugby in region of £1 billion
World Rugby chief executive Alan Gilpin estimates the sport has taken a £1 billion hit in lost revenue due to the coronavirus pandemic.
Gilpin was speaking as World Rugby outlined a fouryear strategic plan until 2025 that includes tackling what he describes as "the three Cs of Covid, calendar and concussion".
The international, club and community games were put on hold last year due to Covid-19. Gilpin said: "We think from the work we've done over the last six to nine months through our member national unions that probably the overall damage is in the region of £1 billion.
"We say that because we've worked, obviously, at the elite level of the game to understand the impacts of Covid and huge revenue drop-off have had.
"We don't know, of course, what the damage really is in the community game, and I don't think probably anyone does at this stage.
"What we have seen in countries that are starting to open up in the community is that players young and old are flooding back to rugby clubs in almost record numbers. We really need and hope that happens around the world and people get back to the sport quickly, then I think we can all move forward and be successful.
"I don't think we have got any predictions on how long it will take. But what we do need to do - and are committed to doing - is working really hard throughout every stakeholder level of the game to make sure we get back to the types of participation numbers we had across the game pre-covid, the types of audience engagement numbers we had, and then build on that. The past year has presented huge challenges. The pandemic has forced us to abort community rugby across the globe, it's led to unprecedented disruption for the elite game and has created huge financial strain on our national member unions, on professional clubs and leagues across the world.
"As an organisation, a sport and a family, this plan will guide how we tackle the three Cs of Covid, calendar and concussion, and build the foundations for a safer, stronger and more sustainable game for all."