RUGBY is set to receive £135m rescue package to help cover losses made due to the impact of coronavirus.

The government announced this lunchtime that almost half of the £300m being provided to sports such as rugby union, horse racing and the National League are to receive the bulk of the money, whilst there will also be financial help given to motorsport, tennis, netball, basketball, ice hockey, badminton and greyhound racing. 

Cricket is one of the sports to miss out.

The funding is expected to be, largely, in the form of loans "to protect (sports’) immediate futures over the winter period” (Source: BBC Sport). 

It said the first tranche of funding will be distributed in the coming weeks.

The Premier League and English Football League are not among them as the government consider them financially able to support themselves, but the National League will receive £25m.

It is unclear what this might mean for non-league football but it is being suggested that funding could be made available for clubs further down the English football ladder.

The likes of Worcester City, Malvern Town and Worcester Raiders had their season's suspended earlier in November due to the national lockdown in England, whilst Worcester Warriors and Kidderminster Harriers have been able to continue due to their 'elite' status.

"Clubs are the beating hearts of their communities - this boost will help them survive this difficult winter period," said DCMS minister Oliver Dowden. (Source, BBC Sport). 

The Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport (DCMS) statement added: "Preliminary allocations have been made on a needs-based assessment process and reflect the submissions made from the individual sports, and the funding process will be overseen by an independent decision-making board and supported by Sport England."