‘Catastrophic’ outlook for English rugby raises Irish concerns

The IRFU’s welcome of the Irish Government’s roadmap out of the current Covid-19 pandemic concentrated on the positive impact of last Friday’s announcement on domestic rugby. Yet in the wake of warnings of dire financial consequences for the English game should Test rugby not reappear before the end of this year, there will be anxiety on this side of the water if a similar fate befalls the Ireland team.

Yesterday was sobering for rugby administrators as the rest of the population stretched its legs a little further in the first wave of the Government’s easing of restrictions.