Karl Fitzpatrick on the radio earlier said that most RL clubs are already close to going under within the next week or two. In what are really strange times, could this be the end of professional RL? Im at the point where nothing would surprise me.

He also said that Wire have a better squad than Wigan

Any clubs that go bust now after only losing one home games income were evidently close to going anyway. Obviously this Chinese virus is going to have an impact all round eventually when more games are missed, I read Barcelona players are taking a 70% pay cut, thats massive and proves that only a few sporting clubs an swallow up the financial problems it will create. i have no doubt some super league clubs may go. And if they do we will have to make sure we survive as a game and they come back at some point?

I wonder how many CEOs think that pulling the plug on their debts and rebooting after bankruptcy would be an option. It is also an opportunity to reform the league. I do not see p and r as being the most obvious system for the next few years given the amount of risk. I have said elsewhere that next year there will be so much sport available that anything we do will be of little importance. I cannot see people putting their hands in their pockets to the same extent.

Some of the clubs have big backers. However, their businesses will also be struggling, so will they be willing to pump money into RL clubs rather as well as prop up their own businesses?

Premiership RU clubs asking for Government help. Oh how the mighty have fallen.

Nb. I know we also need it but it’s hilarious to see RU’s collapse too. In all likelihood neither sport will get any help - and you couldn’t grumble at it either.

The Gov't will bale out both rugby codes. Perhaps not as much as the sports need but it will be substantial.
Rugby League will be ok!

What we should all hold onto in relation to concerns about the sports future is that too many people care passionately about the game and its impact on northern communities to allow it to disappear. There will always be a game though it could well look very different in the coming years. A Phoenix may have to rise from the ashes in certain RL towns but hopefully the game will come together and rebuild together. I can see a lot of fundraising efforts over the next few months and we will need some significant support from the government.

I think the most likely outcome is some clubs will fold but professional rugby league will survive in some form. The worst case scenario is the game goes semi-professional but fingers crossed it wont come to that.

The NRL are in a far worse position as their TV contract is worth far more and they've racked up far higher expenditures based on that level of income. In theory, the relative expenditures of the SL clubs will be far less.

The biggest concern I have is that I feel governments in any country affected will be very reluctant to consider bringing back mass gatherings until a vaccine is produced in 12-18 months. We will likely see some gradual and controlled relaxation of certain measures when we have suppressed the initial virus wave but I think mass gatherings will probably be near the bottom of the list.

Rugby league survived two world wars, and will survive Covid19. It may have to change and adapt to do so, but a lot of things will change in the aftermath of this pandemic.
As long as we and our families are all safe and well, what happens to RL is not as important right now. I'm sure it will still be there in some shape or form, in the future.
KST

Absolutely spot on that, if anything we could come out of this stronger as people have missed it so much.

Exactly, and those who think otherwise need to stop being so pessimistic and just get on with it like our parents and grandparents did in those two world wars.

When will people stop the comparison to the wars? It’s irrelevant and unhelpful at best. If you cannot see the dire financial straits RL finds itself in then you need to take your blinkers off and turn off your Vera Lynn record.