Stormers boss John Dobson believes Super Rugby might never recover from the coronavirus crisis.
Last weekend Sanzaar, the organisers of the southern-hemisphere club championship, decided to suspend the competitions as union members Argentina, Australia, New Zealand and South Africa’s governments took action to stop the spread of the virus.
With only seven rounds played in the tournament, the bulk of matches must still be played.
And for regions and franchises who have been hit by the economic downturn or mismanagement, like at Newlands, Dobson fears the worst.
Dobson says: “I’m not the World Health Organisation (WHO), but because of the reaction to the coronavirus, I hope all of this has been properly thought through because it’s going to have cataclysmic effects on some people’s lives. People are going to lose their jobs and that scares me.
BATTLE: Dillyn Leyds of the DHL Stormers during the Super Rugby match against the Cell C Sharks. Picture: Leon Lestrade/ANA.
“Obviously I am no medical expert I’m sure the right thing has been done and I guess I am just emotional about how serious the ramifications of the suspension are.
“We are not the English Premiership League. And I don’t know what the quantum is if Super Rugby doesn’t resume, but I suspect it’s between an R10m to R20m loss.
“I don’t know if we can absorb it as an industry and the players have genuinely got job concerns now.
“We were supposed to play in Argentina next week and I am not sure why 30 players can’t get scanned, stay in isolation and get scanned 48 hours before the game, get cleared and play.
%%%twitter https://twitter.com/THESTORMERS?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@THESTORMERScoach John Dobson and team doctor Jason Suter have given an update about their team and plans going forward since the #SuperRugby tournament was suspended due to the #coronavirus pandemic.
Video: Phando Jikelo / @AfriNewsAgency/ ANA pic.twitter.com/kM8kwPoHZL
— IOL Sport (@IOLsport)
“At least then the broadcasters would have something to show and the media would have something to write about.”