Wanted: a sporting chance for athletes and fans alike

As they push for a return to normality, sporting organisations across the country face an uncertain 12 months

The latest annual report, published in October, outlined a deficit of €35.7 million for the IRFU. This followed a €28 million surplus the previous year. Picture: Inpho/Laszlo Geczo

Sport has never experienced anything like the coronavirus pandemic, so there is no road map for what happens next. Athletes bounce back from adversity all the time, but for multimillion-euro businesses the comeback trail is not as black and white as putting in some extra early-morning gym sessions.

The burning holes caused by months of empty stadiums and locks on training facilities could bear influence for years to come, and the next 12 months will ...