Discussions on delayed rugby season planned for next week

Last month, the Rugby Football Union confirmed the National League season would not be able to begin until January 2021 at the earliest due to the increase in Covid-19 case numbers across the country which has led to additional Government restrictions.

Clubs like Rotherham are well advanced with their recruitment plans and have set their sights on winning promotion back to National One.

Whether that is possible will be up for discussion during a meeting of the NCA executive committee on Monday.

NCA chairman John Inverdale said: “The game at all levels desperately needs the return of competitive rugby for players, spectators and commercial partners alike, but we are dependent on guidance from Government.

“Every club in the NCA can rest assured that all possible options are being considered whether play is able to begin in January or not. Those options include league rugby with promotion and relegation and also, as has been widely reported, a National League cup competition and a format for that has yet to be finalised.

“The ever-changing Covid situation means other permutations may also need to be considered.”

Inverdale added that by the time the meeting takes place, further guidance from the Government may have been forthcoming in the wake of meetings with senior figures from the RFU in the last few days.