Rugby Football Union plans to make 139 jobs redundant due to COVID-19
Rugby
By
Reuters
| Jul 06, 2020
England’s Rugby Football Union (RFU) is planning to make 139 positions redundant due to the economic impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, chief executive Bill Sweeney said on Monday.
Professional rugby in England has been suspended since March and the RFU has projected a short-term revenue loss of 107 million pounds ($133.79 million) due to the closure of the Twickenham Stadium.
"As you will be aware the long-term financial challenges are significant for the whole economy. We like many rugby clubs rely on revenue from matches and events at Twickenham Stadium and we re-invest this revenue back into the game," Sweeney said in a statement here
“...We are projecting a 4-5 year recovery with cumulative revenue reductions of around 20%”
“We are having to make difficult decisions on what we can continue to invest in as well as what is the right size and shape of our business for the future.”
READ MORE
Two men, same name, same land: 30yr court battle heads for supreme court
From aid to enterprise: Refugee businesses expand East Africa's economy
Ruto rewards Sawe Sh8m, car for breaking London marathon record
Over 300 people displaced as heavy rains batter Mombasa
New 2030 plan targets billions in financing for farmers and MSMEs
Maina named Vision 2030 acting director
New initiative to increase accessibility to spectacles launched
Kenya's path to first-world status requires civic reform
To get it right, let us start right: How Kenya can best reclaim Vision 2030
The RFU has implemented short-term cost-cutting measures, including furloughing 60% of their staff and imposing temporary wage cuts, but Sweeney said a long-term solution was needed.
“We need to maintain our organisation for the long term, this is not a short-term cost reduction exercise, the RFU will still stand, but the impact of COVID-19 will continue to affect us for many years to come,” he said.
The English Premiership, which has nine rounds remaining, is hoping to resume on the weekend of Aug. 14-16 after clubs were given permission to resume close contact training last week.
On the international front, England are scheduled to host New Zealand, Argentina, Tonga and Australia in November.