Newcastle Falcons ask players to be furloughed due to financial impact of coronavirus pandemic

Newcastle Falcons have asked players to be furloughed due to the “considerable challenge to the company's business operations” posed by coronavirus.

On Friday, the RFU confirmed that the rugby season had ended at all levels below the Premiership due to the impact of Covid-19, concluding the Falcons’ campaign.

Later that day, Chancellor Rishi Sunak announced that businesses could claim 80 per cent of a worker’s costs, up to £2,500 per month.

With seven games left on the schedule, Newcastle are 18 points clear of Ealing at the top of the Championship and are widely expected to still be promoted to the Premiership in place of Saracens, who are going down for breaching the salary cap.

But the uncertainty around that situation – the RFU have said they will not be announcing the outcome of the season below the Premiership until mid-April – has contributed to Newcastle taking drastic measures.

Contact with the players from the club yesterday, seen by Standard Sport, asked them to sign and return forms by noon tomorrow, agreeing to become a furloughed worker.

If they agree, they will “have been sent home from work and are not be required to carry out any work for the company”.

Players have contacted the Rugby Players' Association (RPA) for help with an unprecedented situation.

Most Premiership clubs have asked players to take a 25 per cent pay cut, while others, such as Wasps, have furloughed club staff.