Season resumption : Tue Apr 21, 2020 1:06 pm  

So a few scenarios.
1. Restrictions relaxed in May, professional sport allowed to resume but behind closed doors!
2. Restrictions stay in place till say end of June, pro sport allowed to restart as normal with paying fans.
3. Restrictions in place all through summer, pro sport cant resume until well into the year.

Thoughts, option 1 is only really any good for top tier, lower league clubs could not survive without a lot of central funding.
Option 2 restructured season, in this case should there be promotion and relegation?
Option 3 does it get to the point where re starting this season is pointless. In which case choices are to restart anew in Feb 21 or maybe have a couple of weekend festivals like a big bash, magic, maybe a 9s etc.

Re: Season resumption : Tue Apr 21, 2020 9:25 pm  

From what I hear the thought is that teams to catch up on the games that have been lost. Teams could play games midweek. This will put a lot of pressure on the players. Part time teams will struggle with this.
I think that players will not be able three games over a seven day period. The clubs will have to be selective over who plays in which games.
Clubs that rely on DR will suffer. As the clubs that loan players out on Dual Reg will need to use their full squad and loaning players out will be a luxury that they can no longer afford.
I suppose the reserve grade competition will not restart. Clubs will have to focus on their player resources on their first teams.

[brian2]

Re: Season resumption : Tue Apr 21, 2020 10:52 pm  

Option 1 is not going to happen.

Restart in July possible, playing 3 games a week is possible, but strain on players, part-time clubs etc will be enormous, never mind crowds. I can understand why clubs want income streams, but not sure how realistic it all is? Very sad situation, not ate how many clubs will survive

Re: Season resumption : Wed Apr 22, 2020 1:19 pm  

Some of the part time squads run on a small number of players.I don't think three games a week is practical, you'll end up with teams turning up with ten players or some such. Sporting integrity would be out the window, not to mention player safety concerns.

Will we have a shortened season playing everyone once? Bad news financially for clubs but it may be the only way to finish a season?

That's assuming the season is allowed to restart. The Dutch government has today effectively banned professional sport from restarting before September 1st . If we do the same, the season is gone. Along with many clubs I fear.

Re: Season resumption : Wed Apr 22, 2020 3:56 pm  

I don't see anything starting for several months so unlikely to be that many games. They will just have to play it by ear and come up with a suitable format when things are clearer.

Re: Season resumption : Wed Apr 22, 2020 7:03 pm  

Midweek games for SL clubs might be doable, for the part time teams players just ain't going to be able to do it.
If SL clubs were to play midweek assuming not behind closed doors gate numbers will be poor folk will not be able to afford it.
For me if it gets to July then option 3 is only real option, it gets to a point where trying to resume is just not viable

Re: Season resumption : Tue Apr 28, 2020 7:17 pm  

Well the French govt suggesting no sport will be permitted until at least Sep that puts Catalans in a really difficult situation should SL even consider a resumption. Hard days for the sport.

Re: Season resumption : Thu Apr 30, 2020 11:11 am  

northernbloke wrote:

Well the French govt suggesting no sport will be permitted until at least Sep that puts Catalans in a really difficult situation should SL even consider a resumption. Hard days for the sport.

Good to see the French Government at least taking a lead rather than the hand wringing wait & see of the British. After all, there is still an invisible killer on the loose so safety of players & fans should be paramount not Sky TV. It's obviously more difficult for RL as season is just under way where Football & RU the season has almost ended.

It may well be better for Rugby League to go back to part time at all levels as there just isn't enough money in it to support a proper professional sport. Or how about reduce the salary cap to £1.5m & only allow a maximum of 4 full time professionals per club? Just a thought.

Re: Season resumption : Thu Apr 30, 2020 9:41 pm  

Talking about Rugby League not British politics.
I suspect top level football in this country could get the go ahead for closed doors games reasonably soon, SL to follow?

Can't disagree with possibility of some clubs going back part time. If so there would be a lot go south though!

Re: Season resumption : Fri May 01, 2020 8:46 am  

With regards to Top Flight football restarting behind closed doors. The police have grave concerns that hoards of fans will turn up to the grounds, where the games are being played. In the hope of being able to see the game.
This will be the problem that hasty be overcome and I cannot see how.
Plus the players will look silly playing in face masks.