Championship Position Statement
By DC
November 9 2020
Last Friday’s RFU statement on behalf of Championship clubs - following Thursday's report in The Times of potential government funding support - confirms that it remains the desire and intention of the Greene King IPA Championship to commence its 2020/21 league season in January 2021.
Full Statement:
“The Championship is considered a professional league and is a part of the Elite game in England together with the Gallagher Premiership and the women’s Allianz Premier 15s league. As such, it is allowed to function during the government’s “lockdown” period of November.
However, with clubs having little or no earning power for the past eight months, their individual financial status does not allow them to meet the costs of currently required COVID testing or face the prospect of no income going forward due to an absence of match day crowds.
The report, in The Times (Thursday, 5 November 2020), of potential government support funding, whilst awaiting further detail, is very welcome. However, time is passing and urgent decision making is paramount.
Within the above scenario of support, it remains the desire and intention of the Greene King IPA Championship to commence its 2020/21 league season in January 2021, subsequent to a required period of pre-season training and game preparation time.
Much discussion and preparation is being undertaken within the league, in conjunction with the RFU, to play a meaningful league programme but the detail of those discussions must, of necessity, remain confidential and any public debate is, for the present, mere speculation.
The Championship clubs will continue to work closely with the RFU to explore a financially viable route forward for all clubs, and will make decisions and announcements accordingly.”
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The vaccination programme will be too late to help with getting crowds back watching games this season.
Young fit rugby players will be way down the list when it comes to the vaccination unless it could be sourced privately but the financial outlay may not make that cost effective.
If players & support staff are vaccinated, we could see a return as envisaged in January.
Attendances would grow slowly with health & care workers, over 80s, then over 70s, and so on until we all get a pass
I have an issue with my account as I am unable to update my e-mail address, the old one has been defunct for years and of course the verification code is being sent to that old address, it's a freeserve one that's how old it is!!
Could someone provide details of a person that I can e-mail at admin (is it still GeoffDC?) so that my e-mail adddress can be updated their end please.
I have sent you a PM
I think Stalwart makes the relevant point.
If rugby is to return at the highest levels then the only way that can happen will be via constant 'rapid turn around' testing probably once a day for example for eveyone in such a close contact sport.
At least until vaccination reaches those player groups, which could be some while off yet.
My son-in-law plays rugby in one of the Southern leagues and they have scrapped this season. But the lower leagues are quite different to the Premier and Championship.
Not an easy fix though.
