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Blow for sport in UK as Government cancel plans to allow crowds attend events
By Online Editors
The possibility of allowing UK crowds back into stadiums was dealt a major blow on Friday following an announcement by British Prime Minister Boris Johnson. Limited crowds were due to be allowed attend a small number of sporting events across England this weekend, but Johnson has pulled the plug on those plans following a spike in coronavirus cases.
A small number of fans had been allowed through the doors on the opening day of the World Snooker Championship in Sheffield on Friday morning, while over 4,000 spectators were set to attend the Glorious Goodwood Festival on Saturday.
Fans were also due at two two-day county cricket matches this weekend. Small crowds had already been permitted to the two-day cricket meeting between Surrey and Middlesex, which started last Sunday.
However the UK government have now taken a step back by confirming sporting events must go ahead without crowds present this weekend.
It follows a spike in coronavirus cases which has led to general restrictions being reintroduced to some part of northern England.
"Pilots of larger crowds at sports venues will not take place," Johnson said at a news conference.
"I said from May we would not hesitate to put on the brakes at the slightest sign that the numbers were going in the wrong direction."
This latest setback places further uncertainly on when crowds will be allowed to attend larger sporting events.
Johnson had previously stated that supporters may be allowed back into stadiums by October.
The Gallagher Premiership season is set to restart later this month, while international rugby is pencilled in for a return in late October.
The Pro14 is also due to return later this month, with fixtures set to be played behind closed doors.
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Latest Comments
Nah, that just needs some more variation. Chip kicks, grubber stabs, all those. Will Jordan showed a pretty good reason why the rush was bad for his link up with BB.
If you have an overlap on a rush defense, they naturally cover out and out and leave a huge gap near the ruck.
It also helps if both teams play the same rules. ARs set the offside line 1m past where the last mans feet were😅
Go to commentsYeah nar, should work for sure. I was just asking why would you do it that way?
It could be achieved by outsourcing all your IP and players to New Zealand, Japan, and America, with a big Super competition between those countries raking it in with all of Australia's best talent to help them at a club level. When there is enough of a following and players coming through internally, and from other international countries (starting out like Australia/without a pro scene), for these high profile clubs to compete without a heavy australian base, then RA could use all the money they'd saved over the decades to turn things around at home and fund 4 super sides of their own that would be good enough to compete.
That sounds like a great model to reset the game in Aus. Take a couple of decades to invest in youth and community networks before trying to become professional again. I just suggest most aussies would be a bit more optimistic they can make it work without the two decades without any pro club rugby bit.
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