{"id":10103,"date":"2021-05-11T18:33:22","date_gmt":"2021-05-11T18:33:22","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.africa-press.net\/south-africa\/?p=10103"},"modified":"2021-05-11T17:25:34","modified_gmt":"2021-05-11T17:25:34","slug":"sa-rugby-still-on-financial-tightrope-but-bumper-springbok-test-schedule-brings-hope","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.africa-press.net\/south-africa\/all-news\/sa-rugby-still-on-financial-tightrope-but-bumper-springbok-test-schedule-brings-hope","title":{"rendered":"SA Rugby still on \u2018financial tightrope\u2019, but bumper Springbok Test schedule brings hope"},"content":{"rendered":"

Africa-Press<\/a> – South-Africa<\/a>. <\/strong><\/span>CAPE TOWN – While the arrival of the British and Irish Lions will be a great psychological boost, SA Rugby have warned that the sport remains under \u201cextreme financial pressure\u201d as the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic continues.<\/p>\n

The governing body released their 2020 annual report on Tuesday and reported a \u201cmodest loss\u201d of R7.9 million, which is a good outcome, considering that no fans were allowed at stadiums and the world-champion Springboks were not in action last year.<\/p>\n

ALSO READ: What about Springbok Probables vs Springbok Possibles to prepare for British Lions?<\/p>\n

SA Rugby said last year that they were implementing cost-cutting measures across the sport to shave off R1.2 billion on expenses, which saw staff and players taking salary cuts of up to 40 percent, while certain tournaments such as the junior national weeks were not held.<\/p>\n

There was a 45 percent decline in revenue, which saw the amount go down to R710 million compared to R1.29 billion the previous year, due to cuts in broadcast and sponsorship income, no Test rugby and the cancellation of the Cape Town Sevens.<\/p>\n

ALSO READ: Springboks\u2019 Rassie Erasmus \u2019doesn\u2019t concern himself with sheep\u2019 ahead of Lions series<\/p>\n

The SA Rugby group were able to report a R1.5m profit as a result of income from a subsidiary, SA Rugby Travel.<\/p>\n

But chief executive Jurie Roux said that the difficult financial times for rugby were not yet a thing of the past.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe were able to collaborate with our broadcasters and sponsors on finding mitigation strategies and equitable reductions, while we were also very grateful to be able to access World Rugby loans to support our member unions, and ensure that we still have 14 unions in 2021,\u201d Roux said.<\/p>\n

ALSO READ: Georgia won\u2019t be total pushovers for Jacques Nienaber\u2019s under-cooked Springboks<\/p>\n

\u201cUnfortunately, the austerity measures will have to continue. The unforgiving truth at the elite end of the sport is that we are in the entertainment business, and our product is rugby matches and the 365-day-year story that surrounds them.<\/p>\n

\u201cWithout matches and an audience, we have little or no income, and until we return to a situation where venues are allowed 100 percent capacity, we will remain under extreme financial pressure.\u201d<\/p>\n

SA Rugby have put in a request with Sports Minister Nathi Mthethwa for 50 percent attendance at stadiums for the upcoming Lions tour, but he made it clear recently that the final decision will be made by government\u2019s National Coronavirus Command Council.<\/p>\n

ALSO READ: Springboks to face Georgia in British and Irish Lions tune-up<\/p>\n

But there is hope that the financial will improve this year, as there are a whopping 14 Bok Tests scheduled, starting with the two-match series against Georgia in July.<\/p>\n

\u201cThere is much to look forward to in 2021 as we finally run out for the time \u2013 after what will be 20 months \u2013 as world champions when we meet Georgia in July,\u201d Roux said.<\/p>\n

\u201cDomestically, all 14 teams will be in action, and our switch from Super Rugby to PRO Rugby will be complete \u2013 travel-restrictions permitting.<\/p>\n

ALSO READ: Warren Gatland\u2019s dream British and Irish Lions squad could face a nightmare in South Africa<\/p>\n

\u201cWe have weathered Covid\u2019s first storm, and the return of our national teams and the arrival of the British and Irish Lions will be a great psychological boost.<\/p>\n

\u201cHowever, I cannot stress enough, we remain on a financial tightrope which will require careful management and financial restraint to survive.\u201d<\/p>\n

@ashfakmohamed<\/b><\/p>\n

IOL Sport<\/b><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Africa-Press – South-Africa. CAPE TOWN – While the arrival of the British and Irish Lions will be a great psychological boost, SA Rugby have warned that the sport remains under \u201cextreme financial pressure\u201d as the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic continues. The governing body released their 2020 annual report on Tuesday and reported a \u201cmodest […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":84,"featured_media":10102,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[2,8,17],"tags":[274,315,275],"class_list":["post-10103","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-all-news","category-homepage-english","category-sport","tag-africa-press","tag-africa-press-south-africa","tag-south-africa-2"],"yoast_head":"\nSA Rugby still on \u2018financial tightrope\u2019, but bumper Springbok Test schedule brings hope - South Africa<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"CAPE TOWN - While the arrival of the British and Irish Lions will be a great psychological boost, SA Rugby have warned t ...\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/www.africa-press.net\/south-africa\/all-news\/sa-rugby-still-on-financial-tightrope-but-bumper-springbok-test-schedule-brings-hope\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"SA Rugby still on \u2018financial tightrope\u2019, but bumper Springbok Test schedule brings hope\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"CAPE TOWN - 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