The gauges will make a big comeback in the stadiums: the government announced on Monday evening new measures to fight against Covid-19 and the spread of the Omicron variant. The sports matches will be played in front of 5,000 spectators. From January 3, gauges will be set up for major events. They are set at 2,000 people for indoor events and 5,000 people for events organized outdoors. The stadiums are therefore concerned.
Prime Minister Jean Castex also announced that the consumption of food and drink would be prohibited in all sports equipment: refreshments will therefore have to close.
Recipes that risk plunging
These two measures risk weighing down the revenues of rugby clubs, already reduced since the start of the health crisis. For Emmanuel Eschalier, the general manager of the National Rugby League, these provisions go “hitting professional rugby clubs hard“. It is appropriate that“obviously you have to respect” the return of the gauges, but insists that “rugby is a convivial sport which resources are more than 60% on average linked to the presence of the public and partners during matches. The economic model of professional rugby clubs is built on welcoming the public on match days “.
“Rugby is a convivial sport whose resources are more than 60% on average linked to the presence of the public.” – Emmanuel Eschalier, general manager of the National Rugby League
Emmanuel Eschalier specifies that “this new measure, coupled with restrictions on the sale of drinks and food in stadiums, will have heavy economic repercussions“. The director general of the League appeals to the State by evoking a support which “will be essential to (…) compensate.”
Stade Toulousain – Montpellier in a small group
The government measure will not concern the 14th day of the Top 14: the Stade Toulousain will therefore be able to play in Clermont-Ferrand in the classic gauge on Saturday January 1 and Castres will be able to host La Rochelle the next day.
The gauges will apply for the following day. The clash between Stade Toulousain and Montpellier on Sunday January 9 will therefore be played out in front of a small audience. The same goes for the match the day before between Castres and Stade Français. These restrictions will be in place for at least three weeks. The European Cup meeting between Stade Toulousain and Cardiff scheduled for January 22 will therefore be concerned. The same goes for the match between Castres and Munster scheduled for January 14.