RFU CEO Says 2015 World Cup Compensation Deal For Premiership Clubs Is Close

Rugby Football Union CEO Ian Ritchie said that a deal to "compensate Premiership clubs for loss of earnings" during the '15 World Cup is close, according to Chris Jones of the BBC. Elite matches are "not allowed in a host country during a World Cup, so clubs fear a loss of revenue during the event in England in September and October." Some officials have "threatened to play on unless compensated by the RFU." Ritchie said, "It's been a good, constructive set of discussions. I'm hopeful we'll resolve it soon." Ritchie expects the domestic fixtures to "commence when the World Cup reaches its knockout stages in mid-October," and said that the RFU will approach the Int'l Rugby Board to arrange this (BBC, 9/3).