Season start delayed
Season start delayed
Just seen a tweet saying that the start of the season ( 11th March) is going to be delayed. Sounds inevitable now tbh.
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Re: Season start delayed
Super League 2021 season set for delayed start and likely format reshuffle
The start of the 2021 Super League season is expected to be put back from the proposed 11 March opening round, as Covid-19 continues to have an impact.
The league's fixtures working party is meeting this week to consider recommendations to move the season kick-off to a later date.
With the home World Cup scheduled to begin on 23 October, there is little wriggle room with dates.
An alteration to the present 27-game format is also expected.
"The working group are looking at all the available options," a Super League spokesperson said.
While Super League and the Rugby Football League (RFL) were able to complete the 2020 calendar, the impact of the coronavirus pandemic was still felt with match postponements, positive cases and a shortened regular season.
'The structure will have to be looked at' - analysis
Dave Woods, BBC rugby league correspondent
A delay to the season starting seems to be inevitable, given the current trajectory of the pandemic.
The likeliest date for the big kick-off appears to be Thursday, 25 March, a good couple of weeks later than originally planned, though that would need the agreement of TV broadcasters Sky.
It would also mean the season's structure would have to be looked at again and it's probable that Magic Weekend - due to played in Newcastle in May - will be shelved, especially if, as seems highly likely, fans are still not allowed to travel to stadiums by that stage.
There is also a balance to be struck between having enough games in the calendar to help fill clubs' empty coffers and satisfy TV demands, but not playing too many matches and potentially damaging England's World Cup campaign in the autumn.
Meanwhile, clubs are still waiting for the official go-ahead for a return to pre-season training, with the RFL waiting on government guidance.
The RFL and clubs are also trying to firm up plans for an England international in June against the Exiles, a team made up of overseas stars in Super League, if given the go-ahead
It would be new England coach Shaun Wane's only chance for a warm-up game before the 2021 World Cup.
https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/rugby-league/55619672
The start of the 2021 Super League season is expected to be put back from the proposed 11 March opening round, as Covid-19 continues to have an impact.
The league's fixtures working party is meeting this week to consider recommendations to move the season kick-off to a later date.
With the home World Cup scheduled to begin on 23 October, there is little wriggle room with dates.
An alteration to the present 27-game format is also expected.
"The working group are looking at all the available options," a Super League spokesperson said.
While Super League and the Rugby Football League (RFL) were able to complete the 2020 calendar, the impact of the coronavirus pandemic was still felt with match postponements, positive cases and a shortened regular season.
'The structure will have to be looked at' - analysis
Dave Woods, BBC rugby league correspondent
A delay to the season starting seems to be inevitable, given the current trajectory of the pandemic.
The likeliest date for the big kick-off appears to be Thursday, 25 March, a good couple of weeks later than originally planned, though that would need the agreement of TV broadcasters Sky.
It would also mean the season's structure would have to be looked at again and it's probable that Magic Weekend - due to played in Newcastle in May - will be shelved, especially if, as seems highly likely, fans are still not allowed to travel to stadiums by that stage.
There is also a balance to be struck between having enough games in the calendar to help fill clubs' empty coffers and satisfy TV demands, but not playing too many matches and potentially damaging England's World Cup campaign in the autumn.
Meanwhile, clubs are still waiting for the official go-ahead for a return to pre-season training, with the RFL waiting on government guidance.
The RFL and clubs are also trying to firm up plans for an England international in June against the Exiles, a team made up of overseas stars in Super League, if given the go-ahead
It would be new England coach Shaun Wane's only chance for a warm-up game before the 2021 World Cup.
https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/rugby-league/55619672
Anyone can support a team when it is winning, that takes no courage.
But to stand behind a team, to defend a team when it is down and really needs you,
that takes a lot of courage. #18thMan
But to stand behind a team, to defend a team when it is down and really needs you,
that takes a lot of courage. #18thMan
Re: Season start delayed
Catalans to drop out?
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Re: Season start delayed
Surely the only alterations at this stage to consider are:
- Remove Magic weekend
- Play each team twice ONLY
- Remove Magic weekend
- Play each team twice ONLY
Bomhead - "Lockers to prop."
Re: Season start delayed
Delayed until Leeds can get Gale back fit and healthy, You have got to love the RFL and the Yorkshire Mafia
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Re: Season start delayed
Let’s have an arm wrestling competition to decide the destination of the SL trophy.
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Re: Season start delayed
Any one of our lads against Luke Gale tomorrow.Charriots Offiah wrote: ↑Mon Jan 11, 2021 8:19 pm Let’s have an arm wrestling competition to decide the destination of the SL trophy.
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Re: Season start delayed
Yeh, kind of inevitable and can't see any decent size crowds possible until late Summer IMHO.
I'm looking forward to watching ANY RL on TV, NRL should be good to continue?
I'm looking forward to watching ANY RL on TV, NRL should be good to continue?