Havant RFC coach has major concerns over whether any competitive rugby will take place in 2020/21

Havant RFC head coach Will Knight. Picture: Neil Marshall

Teams across the country, outside of the Premiership and Championship, are currently working to a potential league restart date in January following the pandemic.

But parts of England have been placed under more stringent measures as the number of coronavirus cases soar.

Havant, along with other clubs throughout the country, had previously worked towards October and November league restarts following the curtailment of 2019/20 in March.

However, government measures forced the RFU to postpone both of those scheduled return dates.

And even if Havant are back in action in 2020/21, Knight thinks the campaign could have a very different outlook.

That fear is there and that reality is there (season does not go ahead),' he admitted.

'If nothing changes in terms of the risk level that is being experienced across the country and if the number of cases of Covid increases, I can’t see us being rushed back to playing.

‘There is a reality that the season might be very different.

‘I guess at some point they’ll have to say that we may get rugby, but it won’t be league rugby - it’ll be friendlies.

‘Would there be a season where there is no competitive rugby? Possibly.

‘Would there be a season where they just decide to have no promotion or relegation in certain leagues? That’s a real possibility.

‘It really depends on how late the start date is.

‘If we don’t start by February, it will be difficult for any kind of meaningful season to take place.'

No matter what happens, Knight has expressed his fears for the long-term futures of clubs.

Teams have been forced to operate on very little income - if any - since the rugby shutdown in March.

And Knight conceded it could mean some bleak times ahead.

'The clubs themselves are desperate, clearly, to get something back on because it’s a form of income to them,' he explained.

'Clubs have got very little income coming into them at the moment, which is massive.

‘I worry that there may be less rugby clubs around to play because some teams just financially won’t survive.

‘As a club we’re not immune to that and there are some concerns and worries.

‘We’re probably in a better position than some others, but it’s a reality for every club.'