Peterborough Lions supremo says grassroots rugby has been devastated

Moore believes youngsters will now drift away from the sport and some clubs will be in danger of folding because of the financial hit they will suffer.

However Moore insists his own club will come out the other side stronger than when they last played a competitive match - back in March.

Moore said: “The recent decisions by the RFU, added to by another lockdown, have in my opinion devastated grass roots rugby.

“Most clubs have been bearing the situation in the hope all would be back to normal by January, however, that hope has now gone, and our worst fears will begin.

“Players of all age groups will now drift away as there is only so much restrictive training week in and week out you can do. Rugby by its nature is a unique contact sport and nothing short of playing full rules can compensate.

“Many clubs will struggle to survive financially. Not only will they lose revenue from home games, but many also rely on renting out their facilities for wide ranging social events which have also been lost.

“As for the Lions, we will be having an emergency meeting to fully consider our options. We have set monthly outgoings with nothing coming in.

“Up to now, like the rest of our sport, we have been getting together, training under restrictions, revamping and performing long overdue clubhouse maintenance, but it is now time to think outside the box and turn a negative into a positive.

“The Lions have always been good at this and I promise when (if) the 2021/22 season starts we will be unrecognisable from the club that played its last competitive game in March.”