Covid delays Super League

THE start date for the 2021 Betfred Super League campaign has been pushed back to March 25, two weeks later than originally planned.

In a statement, the competition said it will ‘continue to review the fixture schedule’, with more details to be released at a future date. However, in light of the fact the Rugby League World Cup will follow in late October, there has been no change to the culmination of the season, which will still end with the Grand Final at Old Trafford on October 9.

It is expected the ‘loop’ fixtures of four additional matches per team will be removed, but if they are maintained, it will likely mean players will once again face the prospect of midweek fixtures. In addition, the start of the 2021 Betfred Championship and League 1 seasons has been delayed by ‘several weeks’, the RFL has confirmed. Following a virtual meeting of the clubs below Super League level, it was decided to push back the forthcoming campaign in light of the current public health situation and the impact it will have on the return of spectators to elite sporting events.

The Championship was due to get underway in late February, with League 1 following on March 11. Clubs in the third tier supported a longer delay to their season, which is now scheduled to begin ‘later in the spring’.

Despite the delays to the restart, Championship sides have been permitted to return to pre-season training this weekend, but only sociallydistance non-contact training outdoors.