Rugby union clubs could fold with lack of action, warns Cleckheaton coach Thiu Barnard

It was announced last week that community clubs could not return to action until January at the earliest.

Cleckheaton are supported by the bowls and cricket that are also played at the club while the clubhouse still has people coming through the door.

However, Barnard feels clubs who only rely on rugby could struggle to survive.

“We have got three different sports at Cleckheaton; cricket, bowls and rugby. So at least we have got the other two sports to back us up a bit financially but everybody is frustrated and just wants to play rugby," he said.

“It has been four months now since we started pre-season and we still don’t have a clear date for knowing what is going to happen.

“It is understandable but we just want to play rugby.

“The clubhouse has been busy, not as busy as it used to be but everybody is going down to do their bit to support the club and keep it going. At least people are going down, that is the good news.

“The club has paid us through all this and I am really thankful for that. Everybody just wants to play, players are getting older so this is almost just a season gone. We played so well last year and we just wanted to kick on from there.

“There are smaller clubs who only have rugby who are losing money, who don’t have bowls and cricket as well. The RFU should be looking after those clubs, there could be two or three clubs in our area who fold because of this.”