OWNERS of Premiership clubs are reportedly considering "swiftly" cutting wages in the wake of the coronavirus outbreak.

The Daily Mail reports Gloucester has written to players and staff about plans for salaries to "be reduced by 25 per cent" and that "several rivals are set to follow suit amid fears of a looming financial apocalypse", speculating Wasps and Harlequins are about to take similar action.

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The bombshell arrived three days after Premiership Rugby confirmed the suspension of play, initially until April 24, because of the global Covid-19 pandemic.

It is reported that Premiership owners held an emergency meeting on Wednesday with talks going on for "six hours" with a "majority view was that wages would have to be reduced swiftly and substantially to head off the threat of some clubs going out of business", some "within weeks".

Bristol, Bath and Saracens have been named as clubs that will avoid such action. The situation at Warriors was not mentioned.

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