English rugby is in turmoil as players were being advised to consider strike action after Premiership clubs demanded swingeing pay cuts amid fears of impending financial disaster.

EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW BY NIK SIMON: Only seven days ago, Jack Nowell still had a note in his diary earmarking this weekend as the time for him to return to Exeter's starting team.

NIK SIMON: Millions will be lost through matchday takings and broadcast rights if the league goes into long-term lock down. The epidemic could force some club finances to the brink of collapse.

Grassroots teams have urged the RFU to delve into their deep pockets to save ailing clubs, after the Union cancelled the rugby season because of the coronavirus pandemic.

CHRIS FOY - WORLD OF RUGBY: It is up to the RFU and Premiership Rugby to provide some urgent clarity so the Newcastle Falcons can save themselves.

The RFU have cancelled all rugby in England at all levels this season - aside from the Premiership - amid the COVID-19 crisis. Sportsmail gauges views from within the game about the surreal scenario.

Marland Yarde is set to be offered a new contract by Sale after his rehabilitation work with Danny Welbeck paid off. The England winger was out of action for a year with an horrific knee injury.

England international Billy Vunipola insists he is 'definitely staying' at Saracens and hopes to help the crisis-hit club secure an immediate return to the Gallagher Premiership.

England lock George Kruis has admitted his frustration at seeing possibly his last Six Nations derailed but insists rugby players have not got it as bad as Olympic athletes.

Eddie Jones has agreed to a pay cut 'in excess of 25 per cent' as part of the RFU's attempts to off-set the financial impact of the coronavirus outbreak, which has led to a shut-down of the rugby season.

Billly Vunipola has ended speculation about his future by confirming that he will stay at Saracens next season, despite their demotion to the Championship.

EXCLUSIVE BY NIK SIMON: England prop Joe Marler is considering quitting rugby with immediate effect. The 29-year-old is understood to have become disillusioned with the sport.

When Luke Doherty took himself to a retreat in the mountains to learn about Buddhism, little did he know his techniques would be used to help guide rugby players through the stresses of a pandemic.

CHRIS FOY - WORLD OF RUGBY: The coronavirus shutdown has forced rugby into an emergency spell of introspection and exposed the need for change. Here is this column's vision for the sport's future…

EXCLUSIVE BY CHRIS FOY: Bill Beaumont has warned rugby's global community that 'everyone will suffer' in the fall-out from the coronavirus shutdown, called for unity and more state help.

EXCLUSIVE BY MATT HUGHES: Premiership Rugby are considering staging a summer play-off series to determine this season's champions and raise money for beleaguered clubs.

The RFU will determine the final places of the Championship - the second tier of domestic competition - with a 'best playing record formula' after ending the season early due to coronavirus.

CHRIS FOY: There has been a polarised response to the news that Eddie Jones will remain England's head coach until the 2023 World Cup. Many people are delighted. Others are aghast.

Eddie Jones is stuck in Japan due to the coronavirus outbreak where England still intend to tour in July - although it is increasingly likely the trip will be called off this month.

EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW BY NIK SIMON: Last month, Guy Thompson had just finished his morning session in Oadby when his world was turned on its head.

RFU CEO Bill Sweeney has also said that the Marriott hotel adjoining the stadium could be used to accommodate doctors and nurses, and the north car park for drive through testing.

SIR CLIVE WOODWARD: The England legend has been answering all of your questions, ranging from the serious to the funny, on subjects such sport obsession and how to drop players.

French Rugby Federation president Bernard Laporte - who wants to run World Rugby alongside Bill Beaumont and hopes to be elected as vice-chairman next month - has proposed the competition.

Premiership Rugby are desperate to finish the current suspended season before it starts the next, which will put pressure on the 2021 Lions tour.

SIR CLIVE WOODWARD: These are difficult times for all sports but I believe such moments create a time for organisations to demonstrate they are in touch with the world around them.

England face a packed autumn of Tests at home and abroad after RFU chief executive Bill Sweeney confirmed post-coronavirus plans. 

Jonny May represented Gloucester between 2009 and 2017 and will make a homecoming return to the club from July 1 as he has announced he will leave Leicester Tigers at the end of the current season.

In a Bristol team which contains Charles Piutau and Steven Luatua and will soon add Kyle Sinckler and Semi Radradra, it takes a lot to be described as one of the Bears' 'signings of the season.'

EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW BY NIK SIMON: World Rugby has found itself at a revolutionary crossroads after Agustin Pichot launched a late bid to challenge Bill Beaumont in the presidential elections.

Multi-million pound losses are expected among the Home Nations if the autumn internationals cannot go ahead due to coronavirus - which could send rugby into financial meltdown.

Bill Beaumont or Agustin Pichot, the rivals standing next month to lead World Rugby, must be shocked into a drastic overhaul of the game following the coronavirus pandemic. 

Steve Borthwick will become Leicester's new head coach on July 1, as current boss Geordan Murphy moves to become director of rugby. 

EXCLUSIVE BY CHRIS FOY: Vunipola is glad Jones will continue to provoke trepidation and inspiration among players because he believes the Australian can lead them to World Cup glory.

The Scottish Rugby Union this week proposed reductions ranging from 10 to 25 per cent over a five-month period for all players earning more than £50,000 in response to the coronavirus outbreak.

Exeter coach Rob Baxter could finish the season with a new-look team if the Premiership resumes in summer. Standard contracts run until June 30, when many players will transfer to new clubs.

SIR CLIVE WOODWARD: Professional rugby's financial vulnerability has been cruelly exposed and, frankly, it has always been built on shifting sands.

The English league champions confirmed last night they had taken advantage of the government's furlough scheme - meaning all their players' wages are now part-funded by the state.

EXCLUSIVE BY WILL KELLEHER AND NIK SIMON: The Premiership' s £7million salary cap could be reduced to mitigate the impact of the coronavirus.

EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW: Picked as a Six Nations 'apprentice' in January, complete with the customary asterisk to mark his status, Alex Mitchell is Eddie Jones' latest England project.

SIR CLIVE WOODWARD: Bill Beaumont and challenger Agustin Pichot are in the final week of their election campaign to become chairman of World Rugby. 

For Premiership chief executives during the coronavirus pandemic it is not so much that the management text-book has been thrown out the window.

EXCLUSIVE BY NIK SIMON: Sir Bill Beaumont's attempt to win re-election as World Rugby chairman has been thrown into further chaos after the governing body received a damning letter.

Sir Bill Beaumont's campaign to be re-elected as World Rugby chairman was on a knife-edge on Tuesday night, after one of his leading supporters was dramatically ousted by the Fijian Rugby Union.

Ben Foden is supposed to be taking part in his second and final season of Major League Rugby on behalf of New York. However the season has been suspended due to the coronavirus.

SIR CLIVE WOODWARD: I wonder if all those voting for the chairmanship of World Rugby on Sunday realise the great gift and opportunity they have - or what a pivotal moment for the game this is.

EXCLUSIVE BY NIK SIMON: Naiyaravoro is the first player to pledge his future to Fiji if a controversial rule allowing players to switch allegiance goes through.

World Rugby have stated intentions to reschedule coronavirus-hit Tests for October, despite those weekends already being set aside for club rugby and the EPCR claim clubs have been overlooked.

EXCLUSIVE BY DAVID COVERDALE: Leicester Tigers face claims of unlawful deduction of wages after cutting players' pay without their consent. 

Leicester Tigers captain Tom Youngs has confirmed players are still in dispute with the club over pay cuts.

EXCLUSIVE BY CHRIS FOY: Bill Beaumont has turned to ex-Lions team-mates to 'keep Wales and Ireland on track' in the World Rugby chairman election.