Premiership Rugby suspended indefinitely with return date of April 24 scrapped as league works with government to find a way to resolve the season
- The new Premiership Rugby season was intending to return on April 24 this year
- This restart date has been scrapped due to the coronavirus crisis
- Competition CEO Darren Childs remains committed to finding a new start date
- The European Challenge and Champions Cups have also been pushed back
Premiership Rugby is now suspended indefinitely in light of the coronavirus pandemic with no prospect of a resumption soon.
As Sportsmail revealed earlier this week the English league’s organisers have taken the inevitable decision to further postpone the season.
It was hoped last month, when the 2019-20 campaign was paused, that clubs could restart on April 24 – but that has become impossible and now there is no set date for a return to action.
Premiership rugby – with leaders Exeter in action here against Bath – has been supended
Confirming the new postponement Premiership Rugby CEO Darren Childs said: ‘Following a series of constructive meetings with our clubs, investors, players’ representatives, commercial and broadcast partners, and the RFU, we have agreed on our approach to restart rugby, as soon as it is safe to do so.
‘We are creatively working with government and medical professionals to come back promptly, as soon as we know that it is safe to do so.
‘We all remain committed to finding a way to play, so long as we can do this safely, and with the welfare of players, staff and fans at the heart of every decision.’
Premiership Rugby CEO Darren Childs is committed to finding a new restart date soon
The Premiership Final, set for June 20, will not be played at Twickenham on that date.
PRL’s statement added: ‘We are exploring with the RFU opportunities to reschedule the final until later in the year, with all tickets valid for the rescheduled date; and a minimum of 2,500 new tickets to be donated to NHS and essential workers by Premiership Rugby.’
The statement also said: ‘The intention is to play all games and complete the season as soon as it can be done safely.’
Meanwhile, the European Cup is not likely to resume until at least late summer due to the coronavirus pandemic with sources telling Sportsmail it will be the ‘last cab off the rank’ in the rugby calendar.
The Premiership Rugby Final at Twickenham Stadium (above) will not take place on June 20
The European Challenge and Champions Cup will not take place until August at the earliest
At the most optimistic estimate the Champions and Challenge Cup will not be played until early August as organisers EPCR need all three leagues – the Premiership, French Top14 and the PRO14 – to have set restart dates set first as well as a lifting of travel restrictions.
‘It’s going to be a while,’ said a source.
However late the continental competitions – which only have seven matches left each – resume there is still a desire for both to be completed in their current formats before beginning a new campaign, even if that means stretching into the autumn. Premiership Rugby is believed to hold a similar view regarding their league.
EPCR are keen to stage their Marseille finals weekend whenever they can, as 50,000 tickets have already been sold, but as in France you now require a permit to go to the shops that is a long way off.