Leicester Tigers face the prospect of not having a home league game for seven weeks after the suspension of Worcester Warriors and Wasps.
Steve Borthwick’s outfit were set to take on Wasps next weekend and the Warriors in the following round but those matches are now off the schedule.
That not only impacts Leicester Tigers‘ rhythm as they look to defend the Premiership title they won last campaign, but also hurts the club’s pockets.
Tigers set to be short £700,000
According to The Mirror, the lack of games will leave the Tigers short of £700,000 which would’ve been generated by ticket sales and other income.
That is a sizeable hit to the famous club’s finances, especially at a time when all Premiership teams are feeling the pressure in this economic climate.
The net result is that Leicester are without a home Premiership tie until November 27, with away games before then against Harlequins and Bath.
Cushioning that news is the prospect of Premiership Rugby Cup clashes at Welford Road on October 19 (v Newcastle) and November 18 (v Saracens).
While those Cup meetings are predominantly used to blood players short on game time during a season, the Tigers are likely to now go full strength.
The news comes after Premiership Rugby and the Rugby Football Union (RFU) released a joint statement regarding the struggles in English rugby.
The club game is reeling at the moment following the recent news about Wasps, which comes after Worcester Warriors were suspended and relegated.
Club game thrown into disarray
That has led to the season being thrown into disarray despite the campaign being in its early stages.
“The financial difficulties at Wasps, coming on top of the administration of Worcester Warriors, have further highlighted the need for rugby’s stakeholders to address the broader challenges facing the professional club game,” the statement read.
“Premiership Rugby and the RFU are working together to examine a range of options to provide stronger foundations for the game. This process, involving close consultation with clubs and other stakeholders, includes consideration of issues including the structure of the league and visibility of financial information. Player welfare will remain a priority at all times.”
Sports finance expert Kieran Maguire believes that rugby union has been reluctant to address football’s huge commercial dominance in the country.
The lecturer from the University of Liverpool Management School said: “Rugby’s still a relatively new professional sport and in many aspects it’s being run in an amateur way in terms of cash flow and cost control and governance, all the dull words that get accountants excited.
Football delivers in terms of viewers
“I know rugby fans would be upset about rugby being called a minority sport, but football is too successful. It takes too many of the column inches and too much of the broadcasters’ focus, because it delivers in terms of eyeballs.
“That’s a challenge – how does rugby increase its income streams and control costs? I think there’s a reluctance to address that.”
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