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BSP-10
RUGBYU-ENG-PR-HEALTH-VIRUS
English rugby season ended below Premiership level
LONDON, March 20, 2020 (BSS/AFP) – English rugby chiefs on Friday
confirmed the end of the 2019/20 season for all levels beneath the
Premiership due to the coronavirus.
The move applies to “all league, cup and county rugby in England”,
according to a statement from the Rugby Football Union (RFU).
The RFU said it was in “active discussions” with the Premiership.
The move was taken “to assist with long-term planning and provide clarity
to the game at a time of continuous change”, the statement said.
RFU chief Bill Sweeney said: “We are working through the implications of
ending the season early and have instigated a thorough process to ensure fair
and balanced outcomes for the game.
“We will communicate these outcomes by the middle of April. While we would
like to provide all the answers now, we need some time to get it right for
the best interests of the game.”
BSS/AFP/RY/1745 hrs