Leeds Rhinos gear up for cutbacks in 2021

Super League say the deal “recognises the huge disruption to this season’s fixture calendar and the significant impact it has had on broadcasting schedules” and will “enable the game to plan to the end of the 2021 season with greater financial certainty”.

The arrangement, between Super League, the Rugby Football League (RFL) and Sky, is a relief for clubs who have been without most of their income for more than three months during the coronavirus shutdown, but also means budgets for 2021 have to be slashed.

Figures have not been revealed, but it is believed each club’s Sky handout will be reduced by £280,000 next year.

The rebate is understood to be based on the number of Sky matches lost since March 15 when the sport was suspended due to the Covid-19 pandemic.

Hetherington described Sky’s willingness to defer the reduction until next year as “helpful” and said the broadcaster has been sympathetic to clubs’ plight.

“At the outset of the coronavirus, back in March, we - like all the Super League clubs - thought we had a three-month problem,” Hetherington said.

“We now realise it is not only a problem for the whole of 2020, but also for 2021.

“Sky Sports, as one of our clubs’ key funders, have been very helpful in negotiating a deal which won’t impact on us until 2021.”

But while clubs now know how much they will receive from Sky next year, they will still have to offer refunds to season ticket holders, corporate backers, sponsors and advertisers, depending on how many matches are played - and if crowds are permitted - in 2020.

A shortened campaign - possibly of 22 rounds including those already played - now seems inevitable when Super League resumes, probably in August.

There is a general acceptance among clubs that games will be played behind closed doors until at least the start of October.

It is not yet known if paying spectators will be allowed into games once the gates are unlocked, or if attendances will be restricted to season ticket holders only.

Players and staff have taken a pay cut and been on furlough since the early stages of the shutdown.

Hetherington confirmed Rhinos will be applying for a share of the £16m government loan negotiated by the RFL almost two months ago and admitted there is still uncertainty over what money clubs, including Leeds, will have to spend on their rugby operation next year.

“We like all other clubs are trying to provide more certainty to our budgets as to how things will look,” he stressed.

The arrangement with Sky is subject to the sport resuming when government and public health advice allows.

Rugby league is understood to be the first sport to come to an agreement with the broadcaster. However, while football and racing - among others - are now back underway, rugby league is facing at least another six weeks of shutdown.

Super League’s executive chairman Robert Elstone said: “Rugby league’s 25-year relationship with Sky Sports has been built on a genuine partnership that has never been more evident than during the Covid-19 crisis.

“We are pleased to have reached an agreement which acknowledges the disruption to Sky Sports’ Super League schedules, but gives our clubs greater financial certainty moving forward in these challenging times. Our resilience will continue to be tested, but we are grateful to Sky for their ongoing support.”

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