Australia's Super Rugby sides are facing catastrophic financial losses after Rugby Australia was forced to announce the closure to the public of all remaining games beyond this weekend's round.

As the coronavirus outbreak prompted federal and state governments to announce a ban on mass gatherings from Monday, RA fell into lock step with the other major football codes. It announced no change to this weekend's fixtures in Canberra and Brisbane but all following games would be played in empty stadiums for the forseeable future.

Jack Maddocks and Jack Dempsey at WIN Stadium last weekend. Getty

RA's blockbuster July Test schedule, featuring a two-Test series against Ireland and a Test against Fiji in Townsville, must also be considered under a cloud.

That leaves the Super Rugby sides facing huge losses on gate takings, which represent, as a general rule, a third of their revenue. For the Reds, based on the franchise's 2018 financial results, that means a $2 million black hole, or about $412,000 for each remaining home game this season. The Waratahs are facing losses of $1 million all up, or a $300,000 loss for each of the remaining four home games in Tamworth, Brookvale, Parramatta and the SCG.

"It's not good," NSW chairman Roger Davis said. "You take match-day revenues out at the Super level and it's a huge hole in the revenue stream. It's not good for anyone and not good for Rugby Australia. You'd have to say at the moment that the Ireland Tests are at risk.

"When you borderline break even as a Super Rugby side, and have little flexibility on your cost base, then losing that amount on the remaining home games is a huge hole."

Those figures are for match-day memberships and gate receipts only, and do not factor in corporate hospitality or sponsorships, which could conceivably come under threat if the competition is cancelled. The Reds earned $6.4 million in sponsorship alone in 2018, while NSW Rugby earned $5.4 million last year across all those streams, plus $2.5 million in rebates while Allianz Stadium was being demolished. Ironically, the Queensland Rugby Union could see its bottom line boosted with a double header scheduled for Saturday at Suncorp Stadium as a result of the COVID-19 virus outbreak.

"There's no 'how-to' book here, we're in regular contact with our fellow Sydney clubs, Sydney FC and the Roosters, to try and work out what strategies we have available to be able to protect ourselves," Davis said. "I don't see any silver bullets on the horizon short of this [outbreak] being declared over."

RA chief executive Raelene Castle said the decision to play the competition behind closed doors was necessary.

"This is a position that no one in our game wanted to be in, but we have made this decision in line with the government response to this ongoing global health issue and in the best interests of our players, members and fans," Castle said.

"The Prime Minister made it clear in his address to the media this afternoon that the government’s advice is a staged response to this issue, and that by Monday the next stage of their response is to advise against non-essential large gatherings.

Rugby Australia chief Raelene Castle. AAP

"We are confident from this advice that there is no significant or imminent health risk to our athletes or fans for the weekend’s matches. At all times, any decision we make is with the health and welfare of those people front of mind. As this situation is evolving constantly, we will continue to review our position on a daily basis."

Castle said there were no immediate plans to cancel international travel, but that it must be considered to be on the horizon after the federal government's Friday announcement was coupled with a warning to reconsider non-essential travel.

This weekend's round seven fixtures are being held in six cities across four countries (South Africa, Argentina, New Zealand and Australia).

Fans are free to attend a Suncorp Stadium double header featuring the Sunwolves v Crusaders at 4.35pm AEDT (3.35pm local) and the Reds v Bulls at 7.35pm (6.35pm local) on Saturday, plus Sunday's Brumbies v Waratahs derby at Canberra Stadium at 4.05pm.

Next week Melbourne and Tamworth host Rebels and Waratahs games, respectively, while the Brumbies are due to play the Blues in Auckland. The Reds have the bye. The Waratahs were scheduled to play the Sunwolves in Japan the following week before departing on a two-week trip to South Africa, which recently reported its first case of COVID-19.

Earlier on Friday, SANZAAR announced the Jaguares and Highlanders would play their round seven match in an empty stadium in Buenos Aires in a telling signal of things to come.

City authorities issued the edict games could continue as scheduled but without a spectator presence. Changes are also likely for the Jaguares’ home matches against the Stormers on March 21 and Rebels on April 4.

The Sunwolves are already marooned in Australia after their home fixtures against Australian and New Zealand teams were moved to the southern hemisphere.

"Super Rugby is an international cross-border competition and, with the global outbreak of the coronavirus in recent weeks, we always knew that unfortunately at some stage there would be an effect on the tournament,” SANZAAR boss Andy Marinos said. "We have been planning for such contingencies."