PLAN FOR LOWER LEAGUE CLUBS TO RESUME SEASON
CHAMPIONSHIP and League One clubs have circulated an ambitious proposal to restart their seasons in August and finish in November.
The plans – in a document sent to all 25 clubs on Friday and seen by Mirror Sport – would see teams return to their league campaigns on the final weekend of August.
Both competitions would see sides play each other just once, with the play-offs reduced to top four semi-finals and possible promotion finals taking place on the last weekend of November.
The document is a result of one of two working groups set up by the clubs to investigate the possibility of playing again in 2020, and still has to overcome significant hurdles to become reality. The groups are also analysing the financial cost of playing without crowds, and investigating other possible income streams, including broadcasting matches online.
Several clubs are still privately sceptical that a return would be financially viable without crowds present, and are worried about the cost of testing and possible reductions in central fundings next year.
But there are also a number of other clubs keen to do everything possible to complete some sort of season.
They include those that would be Super League promotion contenders although the decision on whether that would be acceptable in a truncated campaign ultimately lies with the RFL board, which is made clear in the document.
Other major issues include the cost of returning to training before matches resume, requiring players to come off the government furlough scheme, and the participation of Toulouse in the Championship.
The French club, which is full-time, faces quarantine and travel issues which they are set to discuss with their own players this week. The Summer Bash – the Championship’s equivalent of Magic Weekend – has been scrapped in the plans, but there is hope the 1895 Cup that finishes with a final on Challenge Cup day can still take place.
It would see just eight teams take part – last year’s winners and finalists Sheffield, (above, Corey Makelim celebrating) and Widnes, plus the next six highestranked teams from England.
The proposal does state the competition would only be “logical” if the final was able to be played in front of a crowd, and also include a different final date to the ones set out in Super League fixture drafts.
The five non-Super League clubs still in the Challenge Cup would also return to action a week early in round six on the weekend of August 23.
Further talks are set to take place this week. - Clubs still in Challenge Cup return to action
August 30 - League seasons resume in both competitions - Postponed fixtures fulfilled
October 18 - 1895 Cup final on Challenge Cup final day November 21 - Play-off semi-finals
November 28 - Promotion finals