State of the Nation - Rugby union desperately needs fans back in 2021

To many, such skills are the very essence of the sport, or at least form its bedrock.

Yet we arrive in 2021 with many clubs and players in this country desperate to adhere to such law variations simply to be able to play the game again.

It is, then, not just the sport’s finances where coronavirus has decimated rugby union.

This example, of course, is only at community level, with clubs not playing league games again until 2021-22.

Some took the opportunity to play the new adapted version of the sport in ‘friendlies’ last month when the RFU was given the green light to resume 15-a-side contact again for the first time since March.

However, with most of the country now in Tier 4, the new year will start with the majority of community clubs unable to operate at all apart from at Under-18s level and below.

Thankfully, at the elite level and even if severely-affected by Covid-19, the previous Premiership and European campaigns were both able to reach a conclusion with Exeter Chiefs completing a memorable double in October.

Moreover, the new top-flight 2020-21 season has hastily got underway, too, with the competition reaching its fifth round stage this weekend.

Although clubs have survived the financial implications of the pandemic, with the help of the furlough scheme and government loans, it is obvious how crucial it is for them to get fans back in stadiums once more for that vital source of income.

Just four Premiership games have seen attendances, each with a limit of 2,000 fans, but three of the lucky few who hosted – Exeter Chiefs, Gloucester and Worcester Warriors – were all moved from Tier Two to Tier Three yesterday so they, too, will now be back to behind-closed-doors for the foreseeable future.

The fourth – London Irish – had already seen a tier change affect them. The Rugby Football Union’s own financial problems following Covid-19, meanwhile, have been well documented.

They announced a £10.8m loss for 2020 with revenues £23m behind budget but chief executive Bill Sweeney also spoke of a short-term impact of around £145m in lost revenues and conceded it could take them four to five years to recover.

Forced to play Autumn Internationals behind closed doors (the final against France did have 2,000 fans) was a hammer blow; the longer Twickenham sits empty the more dire their situation will become.

On the field, England had a good year, winning the Six Nations and Autumn Nations Cup, even if they faced stinging criticism for an unattractive style of play in the latter.

At a time when the public needed a lift, the Red Rose hardly delivered it with a series of unimaginative displays but coach Eddie Jones rightly argued it is not his job to produce a side that entertains, rather a side that actually wins.

England open their 2021 Six Nations account against Scotland at Twickenham on February 6, with Italy arriving a week later.

Given this week’s latest lockdown tightening, it is hard to envisage any fans being allowed in at any point, although optimists might hold some hope for the France game on March 13.

It is a demoralising thought to think another tournament will be played out to empty stands; without fans – the tribalism, colour and passion they bring – international rugby all feels strangely sterile.

Closer to home, 12 months after their previous season was cut short by Covid-19, the Championship will finally start afresh on the weekend of March 6 but not as we know it.

With a truncated campaign, the league has been split into two conferences, Doncaster Knights in with Ealing Trailfinders, Coventry, Nottingham, Bedford Blues and promoted Richmond.

There is, then, no Castle Park date with Saracens which is a shame. But there is some rugby, at least.

Steve Boden, having taken over the reins from Clive Griffiths and drastically reshaped the Doncaster squad, will be looking to make his mark.

Other things to look forward to? After Yorkshire Carnegie’s demise, a revived Leeds Tykes restart in National One.

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