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Worcester owners advise Sports Minister on how fans can return to stadiums

By PA
(Photo by GLYN KIRK/AFP via Getty Images)

Worcester owners Colin Goldring and Jason Whittingham have met with Sports Minister Nigel Huddleston to show how crowds can return to rugby stadiums.

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The future of a number of Gallagher Premiership clubs remains uncertain after new restrictions preventing fans from attending matches for up to six months were implemented by the Government this week.

But Goldring and Whittingham said the Worcester have held constructive talks with Huddleston, whose Mid Worcestershire constituency includes the Warriors’ Sixways Stadium.

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“The meeting was extremely positive and gave the Minister the opportunity to look behind the scenes and to appreciate and understand the key role that we play in our local community,” Whittingham said.

“A task group has already been set up to look at ways of ensuring that crowds can return to sports stadiums in an environment that protects them from the disease.

“We were also reassured that the Government understands the challenges and concerns that we and other professional sports clubs have and that they are seeking to address them as a matter of urgency.”

English professional rugby could be forced to restructure as a result of the coronavirus pandemic and many have predicted that some clubs will fold without financial assistance from the state.

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But Goldring said: “Having spoken with Nigel and hearing how valued the club is by the community we are confident that the Warriors can weather the storm.

“Jason and I are fully committed to the club. We need everyone to pull together and show their support in any way they can.

“With the continued support from our Government and the collective power of our supporters, community and everyone at the Warriors we will get through this together.”

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J
JW 1 hour ago
'Passionate reunion of France and New Zealand shows Fabien Galthie is wrong to rest his stars'

Where? I remember saying "unders"? The LNR was formed by the FFR, if I said that in a way that meant the 'pro' side of the game didn't have an equal representation/say as the 'amateur' side (FFR remit) that was not my intent.


But also, as it is the governing body, it also has more responsibility. As long as WR looks at FFR as the running body for rugby in France, that 'power' will remain. If the LNR refuses to govern their clubs use of players to enable a request by FFR (from WR) to ensure it's players are able to compete in International rugby takes place they will simply remove their participation. If the players complain to the France's body, either of their health and safety concerns (through playing too many 'minutes' etc) or that they are not allowed to be part in matches of national interest, my understanding is action can be taken against the LNR like it could be any other body/business. I see where you're coming from now re EPCR and the shake up they gave it, yes, that wasn't meant to be a separate statement to say that FFR can threaten them with EPCR expulsion by itself, simply that it would be a strong repercussion for those teams to be removed (no one would want them after the above).


You keep bringing up these other things I cannot understand why. Again, do you think if the LNR were not acting responsibly they would be able to get away with whatever they want (the attitude of these posters saying "they pay the players")? You may deem what theyre doing currently as being irresponsible but most do not. Countries like New Zealand have not even complained about it because they've never had it different, never got things like windfall TV contracts from France, so they can't complain because theyre not missing out on anything. Sure, if the French kept doing things like withholding million dollar game payments, or causing millions of dollars of devaluation in rights, they these things I'm outlining would be taking place. That's not the case currently however, no one here really cares what the French do. It's upto them to sort themselves out if they're not happy. Now, that said, if they did make it obvious to World Rugby that they were never going to send the French side away (like they possibly did stating their intent to exclude 20 targeted players) in July, well then they would simply be given XV fixtures against tier 2 sides during that window and the FFR would need to do things like the 50/50 revenue split to get big teams visiting in Nov.

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