English rugby bosses are being urged to abandon the league season NOW for community clubs.
The Rugby Football Union ruled on Thursday night that no rugby below Championship level will be played before January 2021 "at the earliest”.
But there are calls for the governing body to go further as cash-strapped clubs up and down the land desperately try to find a way to stay alive.
“Our proposal is that the RFU abandons the league season and allows us to sort out local fixtures,” said Canterbury chairman Giles Hilton.
“There’s no meaningful season to be had now in these dreadful circumstances but once we’re allowed to play again give us the freedom and flexibility to arrange friendlies amongst ourselves.
“That would give us the best chance of getting decent crowds and maximising bar takings, whilst cutting to a minimum travel costs for teams and officials.”
Hilton has put his proposal in writing to RFU development director Steve Grainger and is awaiting a response.
His move comes in response to Twickenham seeking to give “some certainty” to its member clubs, many of whom are facing oblivion.
Even in the Championship, which next season includes England's champion club Saracens and has no TV deal, there is little confidence clubs will have the financial wherewithal to survive the campaign.
