ORL’s job to keep providing opportunities for players

OTAGO Rugby League plans to get up and play the ball.

Covid19 put a serious dent in the events calendar this season but Southern Zone general manager Steve Martin said the sport was fighting back.

Otago Rugby League held a development camp for 1013 year olds at Logan Park yesterday. The event was not as well attended as hoped, Martin said.

Only six players fronted despite solid interest indicating more would show up.

‘‘We had strong interest prior to the school holidays . . . but we’ve had less than we hoped for,’’ Martin said.

‘‘But the young ones that were here will get some benefit out of it.’’

Part of the challenge the sport faces is trying to keep people’s attention when there is a long break such as the hiatus for Covid19.

‘‘It is definitely a challenge and we respect the fact people’s lives have changed a bit.

‘‘But our job is to keep providing opportunities and we’ve got competition opportunities in August and September.’’

Otago Rugby League will start its season with a nineaside competition on Wednesday night, at Kettle Park.

It will run from August 5 to August 26.

Following that, the senior competition starts on August 29 and will finish on October 10.

A team from Oamaru is expected to join the competition this season, lifting the number of clubs competing from four to five teams.

It will run for six weeks. Southern Zone Rugby League will be running representative programmes this year as well.

The Whalers will play in the South Island Championship tournament which will be staged in October.

The winner will play the winner of the North Island Championship on October 31.

A oneday tournament has been organised for the under16 and under18 teams, which will be held in Timaru on October 10.

A South Island under14 development tournament for girls and boys grades will also be held in Timaru in October.