The economic consequences of the coronavirus pandemic pose a "serious threat" to the survival of professional rugby in Ireland, Irish Rugby Federation chief executive Philip Browne said on Friday, calling for the public to return to the stadiums.
"As long as we cannot accommodate a significant number of spectators in our stadiums and regain good levels of profitability, the achievements of our rugby, built over 150 years, will be threatened", he explained to the parliamentary committee on Covid-19.
Philip Browne assures that Irish rugby's net losses amount to 30 million euros in 2020, ten times more than those forecast in January before the explosion of the pandemic.
This situation is doomed to deteriorate "at a frantic rate" if the projections materialize, according to the general manager for whom the pandemic threatens "the very existence of professional rugby on the island by 2021".
A cash deficit of around 40 million euros in 2021
"Our projections for June 2021 are worrying and forecast a cash deficit of around 40 million euros in 2021, against a surplus of 28 million euros in June 2020. We are monitoring the situation very closely," detailed Philip Browne, in office since 1998. The quarter-final of the European Rugby Cup between Leinster and Saracens, reigning European champions, took place on Saturday in front of a handful of supporters in Dublin.
And the province of Dublin, yet fresh winner of the Pro 14 with sixteen victories in as many matches, bowed to the English promised relegation to the second division for having bypassed the salary cap.
The Irish national team won two Grand Slams in the Six Nations tournament in 2009 and 2018 and three of the four Irish provinces won the European Cup: Ulster (1 title), Munster (2 titles) and Leinster (4 titles).
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