THE cancellations to the amateur rugby season have come at a cost to many sports clubs across the country, but Kirkby Lonsdale RUFC are hopeful that they will get through this situation.

Multiple opportunities of generating income for the club have been brought to a standstill due to the restrictions over the concern from the coronavirus spread.

Club president Michael Neal, said: "We are currently closed up and the season is over, we have closed our gym as well. Everything is at a standstill.

"We usually have tournaments for the minis around this time of year with big crowds but that has all been knocked on the head.

"We also cannot take bookings for camping and caravans on the fields either.

"A lot of income has been lost because of this and the cancellations of the last two home games of the season.

"We get good crowds and bar takings from the weekends fixtures.

"All this has dried up.

"We are hoping to get support from the RFU and the government as we have coaches and staff to pay. I think all sports clubs like ours will struggle really.

"One of the issues is that the news came so quickly, we had no time to put plans in place, minis and juniors can't get exercise on the Sunday, it is a dire situation.

"The Saturday before last we had three home games where all three of our teams won, the spirits were high, and the following Monday everything got put on hold.

"That said, the management team are doing all they can to keep the club going.

"It is a situation that we have not had since the second world war,. Hopefully we will get through this and have some camping and caravans back in the area to help bulild tourism in Kirkby Lonsdale again.

"Hopefully all the clubs will survive this and we have got to work hard to make sure we get through this."

One club player has expressed his sadness at the premature end to the season though, as it is the rugby after all that is at the heart of the club.

Team player Ben Walker said: "I am not sure how the cancellation will affect us really as we were mid-table anyway. However it is a shame that it has ended early.

"We were hoping to be top six this season, but injury problems has been an issue for us really."