Taxpayer Faces £29m Loss from Rugby Union's Covid Loan Defaults

A National Audit Office report highlights financial instability in English rugby, with three Premiership clubs' insolvencies driving significant taxpayer losses.

• Wasps, Worcester Warriors, and London Irish collectively defaulted on £29 million in Covid loans, with no full recovery expected.
• The Department for Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) lent £474 million across sports and culture sectors during the pandemic, with rugby union receiving 26% of the total.
• The government has embedded financial experts to stabilize the Rugby Football Union (RFU) and Premiership Rugby following ongoing financial struggles.
• Two investigations are underway into potential fraud involving £2.2 million in loans from the DCMS's Covid relief program.
• Premiership Rugby insists on its commitment to repaying taxpayer money, with financial oversight measures now in place to prevent further instability.

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