English rugby boss Bill Sweeney has ended the 2019/20 season with immediate effect for all league, cup and county rugby except the Premiership.
In an open letter to all clubs, players and fans, the Rugby Football Union chief executive announced that all remaining fixtures had been cancelled.
Sweeney said the action had been taken “in order to provide clarity and to assist with immediate and longer term planning” - but it left confusion as to what will happen with promotion and relegation.
“We are working through the implications of ending the season early and have instigated a thorough process to ensure fair and balanced outcomes for the game,” Sweeney wrote. “We will communicate these outcomes by the middle of April.
“While we would like to provide all the answers now, we need some time to get it right for the best interests of the game. Rest assured we are working on this as a priority and we will continue to send weekly updates to clubs.”
The RFU acted hours after it emerged that several Premiership clubs will ask players to take considerable pay cuts to help cope with the financial impact of the coronavirus pandemic.
Players’ Union boss Damian Hopley said: “Our advice is that players hear what the clubs have to say and then we will consider a collective position across the league."
Away from the top flight the RFU has yet to provide any financial reassurance to their clubs - unlike both the Welsh and Scottish rugby unions.
