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Rugby Union will receive a £ 135 million bailout as part of the English sport’s coronavirus aid package, the government has announced.
The Department of Digital, Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) provides the Rugby Football Union £ 44m, the Premier League rugby clubs £ 59m, the championship clubs £ 9m and the sub-championship clubs £ 23 Million GBP available.
The message follows SportsmailIt was exclusively announced on Wednesday that a £ 300 million aid package would be announced to support the sport over the winter and prevent many famous clubs from going bankrupt.
Rugby Union receives a total of £ 135m bailout, with £ 44m going to the RFU
Meanwhile, £ 59m for Premiership rugby clubs and £ 9m for championship clubs
The rugby aid package is part of the government package, which is a combination of grants and loans for 13 sports.
Rugby at both club and international levels has been hit hard by the spectator ban. In Twickenham alone, revenue from the gate made up 85 percent of the RFU’s revenue.
Football hasn’t been granted such a high fee as it received £ 28m for the National League in steps one and two – which have already benefited from £ 10m in National Lottery funds to help through the end of 2020 – and £ 11m Pound received from this sum.
The National League’s other moves from three to six will receive half of the £ 28 million allocated, while the top two divisions of women’s football have only received £ 3 million.
In Twickenham alone, gate revenues account for 85 percent of the RFU’s revenues
Steps one and two of the National League cost £ 11m of the £ 28m given to football
However, during the coronavirus pandemic, it became clear that the government expected professional football to solve its own financial slump. The discussions between the Premier League and the EFL about a rescue operation for smaller clubs from the top division continue.
Horse racing is the sport that receives the second highest amount. £ 40million is being taken in by racetracks after being hit hard by the absence of spectators, while rugby league is the only other sport receiving more than £ 10million, topping up to the 16million announced in May Pounds to secure their future.
Greyhound racing is the sport that received the lowest amount in the aid package. The Greyhound Board of Great Britain benefits from £ 1m while badminton wins £ 2m.
Motorsports and tennis cost £ 6m and £ 5m respectively, while England’s netball and basketball bodies and leagues get £ 4m, as does the Elite League in ice hockey.
Women’s Super League and FA Championship clubs will also receive £ 3 million of the award
Horse races get the second highest amount, with £ 40 million being raised by race tracks
Cricket is not included in the announcement as the Winter Survival Package focuses on sports that viewers should currently be welcome.
Sports Secretary Nigel Huddleston said: “Over the past few weeks we have worked tirelessly with sports administrative bodies and clubs across the country to assess what full support is needed due to the decision to postpone the return of fans.”
“We know the vast majority of sports – many of which operate on tight financial margins – have made serious cost cuts such as freezing reasons, starting the vacation program for many employees, and stopping overpayments.
“While the government’s macroeconomic package is a significant buffer, it is absolutely right that we step in now to protect all of sport and the communities they support as we face this pandemic.”
The rugby league will top up the £ 16million announced in May to secure its future with another £ 12million
Culture Secretary Oliver Dowden added, “Sports clubs are the beating hearts of their communities and this £ 300 million surge will help them weather this difficult winter season.
“We promised to stand by the sport when we had to postpone the return of fans. We are doing just that by adding an additional £ 300 million to the existing business support programs.”
“The UK is a sports powerhouse and this government will do everything it can to help our precious sports and clubs overcome Covid.”
The government had hoped to allow viewers to return to the venues on a socially distant basis starting October 1, but delayed those plans after a surge in coronavirus infections across the country.
The Lawn Tennis Association has also been granted £ 5 million as part of the coronavirus relief package
Greyhound races received the least amount of funding, only receiving £ 1m in the announcement
The final amount that any sport or organization will ultimately receive may differ from the amounts originally determined when the final decisions were made by an independent decision-making body and supported by Sport England.
Tim Hollingsworth, CEO of Sport England said: “These are unprecedented times for our sector and for those sports and leagues whose income, which has been particularly hard hit by the pandemic, is so heavily reliant on viewers.
“The role they play in their local communities is vital and this government support package is very much welcomed.
Cricket is not included in the announcement as the package is focused on winter sports
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