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RFU to push for Twickenham to be allowed 40,000 fans for November matches

The RFU are keen for fans to watch the November matches if social distancing rules are eased from two metres to one - PA
The RFU are keen for fans to watch the November matches if social distancing rules are eased from two metres to one - PA

The Rugby Football Union is to push for Twickenham to be allowed a crowd of 40,000 for its November programme of matches against New Zealand, Tonga, Argentina and Australia.

Bill Sweeney, the RFU chief executive, believes that a relaxation of the social distancing ruling from two metres to one would enable the stadium to be at half-capacity and generate a lifeline sum of about £3 million per match.

Government policy is for matches to be played behind closed doors but Sweeney believes that there is enough time and scope prior to the scheduled fixtures for there to be some movement on the issue.

The RFU was already under financial pressure before the impact of Covid-19, with Sweeney estimating a loss of £85 million if the matches were to be played without crowds.

“Playing behind closed doors is not much different to the games being cancelled,” Sweeney said. “I don’t think it’s reasonable to expect that there will be no crowds until the new year. If you have to create a distanced safe space and you are using two metres, you are talking about a four-metre space. With one metre, it is one metre all round. It has the effect of four times the capacity.

Rugby Nerd REFERRAL (article)
Rugby Nerd REFERRAL (article)

“So for an 80,000-seat stadium, if you use two metres and you factor in traffic flow and someone in a row of seats wanting to get up without going past someone and touching them, two metres reduces your capacity to 9-9,500. With one metre, you are closer to 40,000. We would like it to come down to one metre by the autumn.

“I think we are the only nation on two metres [along with Spain]. The World Health Organisation guidance is one metre. We would not do anything contrary to government guidelines, but we want clarity on whether the two-metre rule is absolutely essential or is one metre possible.”

The RFU is in close contact with counterparts in New Zealand, who are set to launch an abbreviated, Covid-adapted Super Rugby competition next weekend.

Sweeney also intends to use the contacts of Eddie Jones, the England head coach, and the imminent arrival of another Australian, skills coach Jason Ryles, from Melbourne Storm, to tap into lessons learnt by the National Rugby League, which has already returned to play.

Sweeney will speak to Eddie Jones to tap into lessons learned by the National Rugby League who have already returned to play. - Getty Images
Sweeney will speak to Eddie Jones to tap into lessons learned by the National Rugby League who have already returned to play. - Getty Images

“New Zealand go back in a week with stadiums full,” Sweeney said. “The massive difference there is the infection rate and the number of cases. They are confident they can go back to normal virtually straight away. NRL is in a similar situation. I will be talking to them to see if we can learn.”

Sweeney is well aware of the need to fall into line with protocols, but he is also acutely sensitive to getting Twickenham back on its feet to ensure a viable future for the professional as well as the community game in England.

There are several pencilled scenarios if the incoming tourists in November are prevented from travelling, involving a home-and-away Six Nations tournament or “a festival” of rugby with invitational teams. Eighty-five per cent of RFU revenues come from staging of men’s international fixtures. Twickenham might also be hired as one of the neutral stadiums to host back-to-back Premiership fixtures if they are not able to be staged at the regular club grounds.

“We have mapped out a second-wave scenario,” Sweeney said. “We do not refer to it too often. It would not be pleasant. None of us wants to see that occurring; any union, any business.”