Enniscorthy welcome rugby’s return to play plans
THE I.R.F.U. has announced that club matches will be permitted to be played in September as part of the union’s Return to Rugby programme.
The 2019-’20 season was brought to a premature halt as a result of the coronavirus pandemic, with all clubs retaining their league status for the 2020-’21 campaign.
Enniscorthy - who had secured a promotion play-off spot in what was their first season back in Senior club rugby - will now be seeking to build on this progress.
The hope will be that they can achieve promotion through the new league campaign, the format of which has still to be decided.
The sport’s governing body in Ireland has added a ‘competition stage’ to their guidelines for clubs, which will allow for the 2020-’21 season to start in September.
The return date has also factored in a five-week contact training phase ahead of a return to competition, while the I.R.F.U. also stated that a modified season is being planned for the ‘20-’21 campaign.
The competition stage is ‘to allow clubs to plan and work towards the start of the 2020-’21 season and the playing of rugby matches,’ a statement said.
‘September has been given as the month in which rugby matches will be permitted to return for clubs.
‘Given the changing nature of the re-opening of society and the recovery from the Covid-19 pandemic, a specific date will not be issued until further clarity is available and will remain subject to change.
‘The given date will also factor in a minimum window of five weeks permitted for contact training ahead of a return to rugby matches.
The competition stage is the final sone in the summary roadmap of the I.R.F.U. return to rugby guidelines.
All clubs are currently in the Covid-19 safety planning stage, which they must complete before moving to the resumption of training at any level.
And the I.R.F.U. are now working toward a modified season for 2020-’21.
‘The governing body recognises concerns over travel, safety and expense, and this will be reflected in the season’s structure. Clubs should expect that games at the start of the season will be kept local where practicable,’ the statement said.
The Enniscorthy manager, David Wrafter, has welcomed the return to play details.
‘We have already moved with the appointment of Stellah Sinnott as safety officer and Liam Walsh in charge of compliance. We have been active over the months in preparing for the new season,’ he said.
‘We will not return to training until the end of July, which would be the normal time to resume any season. We will take it on from there.’
On the structure for the new season, Wrafter said: ‘No decision has been made on the leagues. It is being rumoured that the AIL may not start until after Christmas with only one round, no home and away.
‘In the AIL, should it go as normal, we are in with three northern teams which is something that will be looked at, although with Covid-19 they seen to be on the same footing as ourselves.
‘It’s a case of wait and see as to what each week brings.’
As the new season approaches, Enniscorthy have good news on the injury front.
‘Both M.J. Doyle and David O’Dwyer have fully recovered from leg injuries which had curtailed their season and are ready to return to training,’ Wrafter said.
‘Alan Jacob has undergone a shoulder operation and is returning to full fitness, while Ivan Jacob, who figured in the club’s last league game against Sunday’s Well, is also fully recovered.’
It is also rumoured that Enniscorthy are about to strengthen their squad with two players who are living in the locality. However, Wrafter was non-committal on this.