South Coast Group Seven Rugby League could be back on the fields by July 18.
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The NSW Rugby League board has established a plan to work towards a restart of community competitions in July to coincide with a common return date for some other winter sports across the state and the term three of the school year.
Group Seven was among almost all local winter sports whose seasons were derailed by COVID-19 prior to their competitions actually getting underway.
NSWRL CEO David Trodden said the decision to work towards a shortened Community Rugby League season and a restart of other abbreviated senior competitions from July 18 will be further reviewed and confirmed on June 1 subject to the existing government advice available at the time.
Trodden said the decision took into consideration the NSW Public Health (COVID-19 Restrictions on Gathering and Movement) Order 2020 which is preventing sport from being conducted and expires at midnight on June 29 unless it is further extended.
"Accordingly, the earliest possible return date is June 30, unless the NSW Government decides to lift the Public Health order earlier," Trodden said.
"Most winter sports favour working towards a return date of July 18, at the end of the next school holiday period, with a return to training on July 1, subject to the status of the public health in the interim.
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"The board and management of NSWRL have been continuing to closely monitor developments with regards to the COVID-19 pandemic and will continue to strictly follow the government advice so that we will only return to playing footy when it is deemed safe to do so.
"The NSWRL and everyone in our rugby league community need to be responsive to the continual changes to the government advice around risks to public health for the broader community, and if it becomes apparent that a July start date is not feasible, we will adjust and reassess."
The decision to work towards July 18 applies to:
- Community Football, involving more than 100,000 boys, girls, men and women across the state. The 2020 season was originally due to start on April 4 when it was postponed in March. All clubs and leagues are encouraged to continue to take registrations beyond the traditional June 30 registration cut-off date.
- Ron Massey Cup, Sydney Shield and Harvey Norman Women's Premiership. One round had been played when the competitions were suspended on March 27.
In relation to the nine competitions cancelled by the NSWRL in March, the board has determined that no premiers and no player of the series awards will be declared for any of those competitions for 2020.
This applies to the NSW Canterbury Cup, Jersey Flegg, women's country championships and men's under 23s country championships, as well as junior representative competitions SG Ball, Tarsha Gale, Harold Matthews, Andrew Johns Cup and Laurie Daley Cup.
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