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Former England captain and coach Kevin Sinfield and Tony Smith have backed a bold proposal to save the future of rugby league.

The plan - put together by a group of administrators, players and coaches - is based around safely returning to play behind closed doors and televising every single Super League match.

The games not part of the current agreement - which sees two per week screened on Sky - would then be offered on a pay-per-view basis that would provide every club in the professional game with a chance to generate income.

Each fan would state which club they support when purchasing the match, with season ticket holders for the “home” team taken into account within the plan.

Leeds director of rugby Sinfield and Hull KR coach Smith have thrown their support behind the idea, which has been developed from an initial proposal made by leading player agent Craig Harrison.

(Image: PA)

It is also being supported by Wigan captain Sean O’Loughlin, Castleford coach Daryl Powell and Leeds scrum-half Luke Gale, with a number of leading club administrators understood to be receptive to it.

Sinfield said: “It's important to say first that these have been very difficult times for a lot of people, and in that sense it seems strange to be talking about starting rugby league again.

“Any move forward has to be done within the government guidelines of the time, and everybody's health - both the general public and the players' - has to be at the very forefront of that.

“But at some stage sport is going to resume, rugby league needs to make proactive plans for how that will happen - and there is plenty of merit in what has been put together.

“We need to keep people in the sport in jobs - not just players and coaches - and we also need to give people generally some hope.

The three-point plan Follow all government guidelines for Covid-19, with players being tested routinely and staying in isolation between matches to train individually.

All matches to be played behind closed doors at one central venue over two or three days. Catalans Dragons’ involvement to be discussed, Toronto’s squad already in England.

With the support of Sky Sports screen two weekly Super League matches as usual then offer the other four fixtures as pay-per-view that would allow each professional club to earn revenue.

(Image: PA)

“The first consideration that has to be put in place is the players’ health and welfare - that has to be at the forefront of absolutely everything.

“Then it needs Sky to be on board fully. They are the game’s broadcast partner for all matches - whether those matches are streamed or shown on television - so clearly any plan would need to be done in full consultation with them.

“They have given an incredible amount to our sport already, and this could be a way for them to help keep it alive long-term.

“I’m sure other sports are having conversations like this and rugby league could lead the way once it is safe to do so.”

News emerged this week of cuts to players wages across Super League, underlining the reality of the sport’s current financial position.

The new plan involves all players being rigidly tested before each game and remaining in isolation as they are now between matches.

(Image: Chris Brunskill / Getty)

Supporters at any club in the professional game could then choose which matches to purchase with the revenue going straight to their clubs.

Super League Grand Final winning coach Smith said: “Our sport needs to be prepared for whatever is next, and that is difficult as some things can’t be answered yet.

“If we are just thinking about when the turnstiles will reopen that could be some time yet, and we have to consider how we can possibly self sustain or generate income in order to keep the owners of clubs involved. It’s vital that those owners stay involved for the survival of the sport.

“I’m open to all ideas and this one seems the most plausible depending on who is willing to buy into it and drive it forward.

“The biggest one of those is Sky, who are imperative to anything moving forward.

“They have been the biggest investors in our sport out of anybody, and if they endorse this they could play a really big part in the survival of it.”

(Image: Getty Images)

Smith reiterated Sinfield’s stance that player health and safety must be at the forefront of a return to playing, with both stating that this would act as a stepping stone to the full return of live sport at some stage in the future.

Sinfield added: “People need to understand that unlike some other sports or the NRL - which can exist on their broadcast deal alone - that is not the case with rugby league here.

“To operate as we currently do, clubs are reliant on gate revenue and other match related income. If we had to play games behind closed doors, that would clearly have an impact on Super League moving forward.

“But the banning of mass gatherings could be in place for a long time and this could be a way to restart the sport.”