JOHN Kear would not want games to go ahead without fans just to keep the rugby season going.

The Bulls coach is as frustrated as anyone by the current suspension as sports shut down to try to limit the spread of the coronavirus pandemic.

There is a suggestion that fixtures could end up being played behind closed doors to catch up if the risks are considered too great to allow the public to watch.

But Kear would be firmly against such a plan.

“I’m not a fan of playing behind closed doors,” he said. “I think the crowd play a part in sporting theatre.

“It’s like playing a practice game, otherwise. You might as well play your first team against the reserves.

“It would be flat with no atmosphere. Spectators are so integral to the occasion and it’s not going to feel right if they weren’t there.”

The absence of any sport will hit hard as the public are advised to stay indoors. Kear feels that could be a factor with the timing of when some are permitted to resume.

He added: “I think you have to play off lifting morale and spirit and mental health against the dangers of this. We could play again sooner than people think.

“I went to Cas on Sunday knowing full well that everything was probably going to be locked down afterwards.

“I thoroughly enjoyed it but there were a number of people who came up to me and were saying, ‘I don’t know what I’m going to do now without my rugby’.

“It’s not as if you can sit indoors and think that at least you’ll be able to watch this match and that one. There is no sport at all.

“Mentally it’s going to be a challenge, not just for people who are directly involved in sport but those whose reason for going to work is for the weekends so they can enjoy watching their team.

“Obviously a massive part of the weekends has gone.”