London (AFP)
The English Rugby Federation (RFU) announced Monday that it will have to cut 139 jobs, or a quarter of its workforce, due to the financial crisis linked to the Covid-19 pandemic.
"As you know, long-term financial challenges are important for the whole economy (...) We have to make tough decisions on where we continue to invest but also on the size and organization appropriate to the future, "said President Bill Sweeney on the RFU website.
"To ensure we have a sustainable RFU, we have announced to colleagues that we are proposing to reduce the total number of positions in our organization by 139," he said.
Mr. Sweeney recalled that the short-term financial losses, linked in particular to the cancellation of the autumn international matches in Twickenham, owned by the RFU, are estimated at 107 M GBP (118 M EUR).
But "we also know that there will be a long-term effect", warns the president who speaks of a period of "4-5 years to recover (from the crisis)" and of a "cumulative loss of income about 20% "over this period.
The English federation had already reduced its costs by placing 60% of its staff on short-time working and implementing wage cuts for the highest earners for three months, a measure which has been extended.
"Unfortunately, this is not enough to make our activity sustainable and preserve our future. We must perpetuate our organization in the long term (...) the RFU will survive, but the impact of the Covid-19 will continue to affect us for many years, "he warned.
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