English Premiership Rugby sets August date for restart
Joe Marler signs new deal with English Premiership side Harlequins
LONDON: Premiership Rugby announced its plans on Friday to resume the English top-flight season on August 15 after the coronavirus shutdown.
Rugby chiefs earlier this week gave clearance for English Premiership clubs to start non-contact training. The competition was suspended in mid-March but the intention is still to finish the season.
Exeter are five points clear of Sale at the top of the table, with Bristol and Northampton occupying the other two play-off places. “Nothing will happen until it is safe to do so but we will do everything we can to resume the 2019/20 Premiership Rugby campaign on Saturday, 15 August,” Darren Childs, chief executive of English Premiership Rugby, said in a statement.
“We won’t take risks with people’s health, and rugby has unique challenges due to levels of proximity and impact, but with a number of clubs moving to stage one, it is important for us to give players, coaches and clubs clarity on when they can look to return.
“Bearing that in mind, we look forward to the restart of the season.” The Premiership said the structure and format for the rest of the campaign would “follow in due course”.
Each team has nine games still to play in the regular season but relegation is already decided, with Saracens set to play in the Championship next season as punishment for salary cap breaches.
Newcastle will replace Saracens after the second-tier Championship season was cancelled.
Bath Rugby chief executive Tarquin McDonald said “we are all desperate to get back and play”.
“We welcome this news and crucially can now set timeframes in order to maximise our athletes’ readiness for a return to competition when that time comes in August.”
Meanwhile, England prop Joe Marler has signed a new contract with Harlequins, the Premiership club announced on Friday.
The 29-year-old front row, who has also represented the British and Irish Lions, has made more than 200 appearances for Quins since a debut in 2009.
Quins did not reveal the exact length of Marler’s latest deal but said he had committed his “long-term future” to the London club. “I am a Harlequin, and I love the club,” said Marler, capped 71 times by England .
“Growing up with Harlequins as my boyhood team, I remember getting thrown out of the Stoop as a fan when I was 12 because I had tried to run on the pitch.
“Now I get the chance to continue my journey with great friends, team-mates, coaches, and fans, without getting thrown out... yet.”
Harlequins’ head of rugby Paul Gustard
We won’t take risks with people’s health
said: “It is outstanding news that Joe has committed his long-term future to the club. “He is, without doubt, one of the best props in world rugby and arguably the very best scrummaging loosehead prop in the modern era.”