Dust off your boots, rugby’s back
QUEENSLAND Rugby Union have opened the door to a return to football as the Gold Coast’s rugby community returned to training for the first time last night.
The upgrade from “red” to “amber” on the QRU trafficlight system allows non-contact training to restart for groups no greater than 20, split across three sections of the field.
Using a ball for kicking and passing is now permitted while tackling, rucking, scrummaging and mauling remain forbidden until the “traffic light” is upgraded to green.
Gold Coast District Rugby Union chairman Kim Bending said the upgrade to amber was a major positive for the region.
“It’s lovely news,” Bending said. “That is a major positive for us as a district, for our clubs and all our participants.
“Obviously we’ve all been in a holding pattern but it appears that the majority of age groups and three senior sides will be able to contest a 10-week, round-robin competition.
“Depending on our start date, that will take us into October and give all our clubs something to work towards now they’re back training.”
Clubs are optimistic the return of players and payment of registration fees will produce a windfall to aid in their recovery from COVID-19.
Securing government permission to increase numbers of spectators from 100 will provide another revenue stream, though clubs remain in the dark as to when those restrictions could be lifted.
“Like most community sports, we’ve taken a huge hit,” Bending said. “Registrations become really important.
“If we can keep working on getting numbers registered we’ll end up with a season that didn’t look like it would happen three months ago.”
Tweed Heads-Coolangatta has withdrawn from second grade due to the border closure.