The English Rugby Union Federation has asked the British government to soften the rules on social distancing, which would allow it to earn 12 million pounds (€ 13 million) if a denser audience is admitted to Twickenham for international meetings of November.
Britain is currently insisting that a two-meter gap be maintained between spectators to stop the spread of the coronavirus. But for Bill Sweeney, the director general of the federation, to go from two meters apart to one would dramatically increase the number of spectators at Twickenham, which has a total capacity of 80,000 people.
"If you use two meters apart, then in reality this represents a secure space of four meters around each spectator," he said. "With one, it's a meter all around, which has the effect of quadrupling the capacity."
"With a meter of social distance, we reach almost 40,000, and we would like this number of spectators to be selected for the matches planned for the fall"
Bill sweeney“If you use two meters in a stadium with 80,000 seats and you take into account the movement of people, for example if someone wants to use the toilet without passing in front of another spectator and without touching it, this reduces your ability to 9,000 to 9,500 seats, ”continued Sweeney.
“With a meter of social distance, which corresponds to the recommendations of the World Health Organization, we arrive at nearly 40,000, and we would like this number of spectators to be retained for the matches planned for the fall "
New Zealand, Argentina, Tonga and Australia still on the program
The director general of the English Rugby Union Federation said that his organization would comply whatever happens to the decisions of the British government, and would not compromise the safety of spectators, while wishing "to be clear if the rule of two meters is absolutely essential or if one meter is possible ”.
England still hope to be able to play their planned home games in November against New Zealand, Argentina, Tonga and Australia, even though Bill Sweeney insisted that all options were on the table, including including moving the dates of the Six Nations Tournament or the Lions Tour.
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