Coronavirus: What happens now that Super Rugby is suspended?

The ACT Brumbies' game against the NSW Waratahs in Canberra on Sunday afternoon could be the last of the season.

Here are some of the burning questions.

Yes. Federal government health officials have advice is to cancel large gatherings from Monday.

People feeling ill are being told to stay at home. But the Brumbies are keen for healthy patrons to attend what could be the last live game of sport in Australia this year.

It's a definite possibility. All Australia Super Rugby franchise have been strapped for cash.

Crowds have dropped in recent years and the sport has struggled to increase revenue.

According to the Brumbies' 2019 annual report, they generated $1.087m in match-day revenue last year. They also spent $978,806, so the profit was marginal.

The Brumbies have made profits in back to back years, but only banked enough money to keep the power on for a few more weeks should cash dry up.

The Brumbies have no major assets after selling their Griffith headquarters almost a decade ago to move into a new $15 million home at the University of Canberra.

Part of the deal was 30 years of prepaid rent, but the Brumbies have little to draw on.

Their average crowds this year have been just 7200, which is below projections. If they continue, the club will lose money every time they open the gates.

The ACT government charges the Brumbies to use Canberra Stadium and they have to attract a certain number of people to each game to make it profitable.

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There will still be a fee for playing at Canberra Stadium even if crowds are not allowed to attend. But the government could choose to wave that given the Brumbies, or the Canberra Raiders, could not afford it as a long-term option.

Rugby Australia isn't exactly flush with cash. So the game will need state or federal government funding to help teams remain viable.

When there's no money coming in, something has to break. Player and staff salaries will be at the top of the priority list, but it is not a bottomless pit.

The Brumbies made a profit last year because the early exit of David Pocock, Christian Lealiifano, Sam Carter, Rory Arnold and Henry Speight helped them save on player wages.

Rugby competitions around the world have been shut down, so rich overseas teams won't be lining up to poach players. But it is a possibility of those competitions begin before Super Rugby resumes.

Super Rugby bosses have suspended the competition for at least two weeks.

That time period is to give them an opportunity to review changes to coronavirus advice, and to come up with alternate competition options.

The biggest problem the competition faces, which is unlike most in the world, is the the travel factor.

There are teams from Australia, New Zealand, South Africa, Argentina and Japan. They are split into three conferences, with Japan joining the Australian teams and Argentina joining the South African sides.

Matches could be played behind closed doors, similar to the way the NRL is approaching the crisis. But New Zealand's quarantine measures make that impossible for inter-conference matches.

Some will ask for money back given the competition is all but over. Others will be happy for the Brumbies to keep the money, knowing finances are tight.

Don't cancel your membership just yet. The fast-changing nature of coronavirus means that fans could be allowed back at games by the time the Brumbies return to Canberra Stadium on April 4.

The lack of games, however, could have an impact on sponsorship given there will be no television exposure in the short term.

Broadcasters in all countries will want content for as long as possible.

One option that could be viable is to play against teams within your conference at empty stadiums.

That would mean the Brumbies playing the Waratahs, Queensland Reds, Melbourne Rebels and Japan Sunwolves for, say, eight weeks.

There are 10 rounds in the regular Super Rugby season left. If at the end of the eight-week interconference matches the coronavirus restrictions have eased, the top teams could play in a finals series.

Playing interstate games could be the perfect test case to see if Super Rugby is dead and it's time for something new.

Many in Australia have spoken about exiling South African teams to concentrate on a trans-Tasman competition in the future.

New Zealand seem less keen on the idea given the woes of Australian teams in recent years.

But it would reduce costs and could be a chance to blow up Super Rugby, overhaul the competition and revive a stale brand.

The international nature of rugby union makes it impossible for games to be pushed back.

Teams would not be able to play mid week because of the travel required, and delaying it would cause mayhem with the Test schedule.

Ireland is scheduled to play in Australia in July, while the Rugby Championship usually starts in August before a spring tour of Europe.

It leaves no space for pushing back Super Rugby matches and simply playing them at a later date.

Andrew "Twiggy" Forrest's Global Rapid Rugby started this week. Forrest has revived rugby in Western Australia after the Western Force was axed by Rugby Australia.

But his competition could be suspended as well given there is international travel involved.

If that is the case, the Force could be welcomed back to play the Australian Super Rugby teams.

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