The 2021 Six Nations may be delayed with unions desperate to have supporters at the games.
The Irish Rugby Football Union has expressed its concern about loss of revenue due to games being cancelled or held behind closed doors and the English Rugby Union estimates losses of £60million for next year's tournament alone, due to start on 6 February, in the event that it goes ahead without fans.
It is understood that the unions are considering delaying the tournament, according to reports in UK media, until a time when fans would be allowed to return.
Speaking in the Times, Six Nations chief executive Ben Morel said: "We have to look at everything right now.
"We need fans back. We are not about to announce that we are doing this [a delay], but it is one of the options that is there."
Quoted in the Guardian, Wales coach Wayne Pivac said: "Who knows when the Six Nations will be played?
"There is talk that it could be pushed out slightly, looking at what the virus might be doing.
"Discussions are ongoing and that is smart. Unions are desperate not only for matches to go ahead but to make sure that crowds watch them so we can meet our financial obligations to the game."
Ireland are due to host England and France in next season's campaign, with games against Italy and France still to be concluded for the 2020 edition.
The Covid-19 crisis has hit the rugby calendar hard and the lack of certainty is of massive concern to all parties.
"The game is haemorrhaging money at a rapid rate," former Ireland forward Bernard Jackman told RTÉ’s Morning Ireland.
"The RFU have had to make huge cutbacks in their community game, the Welsh Rugby Union had to get a €20m loan for the four regions. We know the IRFU are haemorrhaging cash.
"The Six Nations is the 'cash cow’ and I suppose the thought of that going ahead without fans is scary for the financial advisors of the unions.
"I suppose they are trying to pre-empt that and see if there was any way of pushing it back and having a crowd.
"Without crowds, while there would be some TV money, it’s not going to be sufficient to run the game as we know it.
"It’s not just the professional game, it goes all the way down to the community game. It’s a very difficult time."
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