The Prime Minister’s announcement of a new National Lockdown for England on Monday night (4th January) will impact on Rugby League, as all other sports and sections of society, in a number of ways.

Grassroots Rugby League

Community Rugby League, which had been due to resume at Youth and Open Age level in January, is now required to be suspended under Government rules. The club was planning to return for the 2021 pre-season after February half term, which is when the lockdown is due to finish. We will review this plan as the success of the latest lockdown becomes clearer.

The RFL will continue to stress to Government, working with other sports, the importance of team sports in terms of the nation’s mental and physical fitness, and the importance of Community Clubs in terms of social cohesion – and will work towards a return of training then competitions as soon as possible this spring. More information on resources for clubs in the meantime can be found here.

Professional Rugby League

The RFL has advised clubs in Betfred Championship and League 1 to pause their pre-season training programmes for the next two weeks, in recognition of the national crisis, and with more than seven weeks until the scheduled start of the 2021 season.

This will allow detailed discussions with clubs, before the publication of fixtures – which will be delayed, as will the draw for the first two rounds of the Challenge Cup, until a further announcement later this month.

Academy and Scholarship programmes will also be suspended, and Betfred Women’s Super League clubs will also be advised to pause their pre-season training programmes – although it is hoped the England Women and Wheelchair squads will continue with their training camps in January and February as previously scheduled.

The RFL will continue to work closely with Betfred Super League clubs to ensure the protocols around their pre-season training programmes evolve to reflect the current landscape and understanding of the disease.

Looking ahead

While it is frustrating to be in another lockdown, the club is committed to returning to rugby league activity when it is feasible and safe. While we will never be first to act, instead choosing to learn and observe from others to ensure the safety of our members, the months we spent operating in late 2020 gives us confidence we can operate in a way that creates a safe environment for all involved.

Assuming the situation improves, we are hopeful of being able to return to training and then matches by the spring/summer, that we will be able to enjoy Newcastle Thunder in their first season in the Championship, and prepare to welcome the Rugby League World Cup in the autumn.

2021 is set to be a big year for rugby league and even big for the North East game and we look forward to enjoying the journey with you when we can.