Castleford Tigers adjust training to keep players at their peak

CASTLEFORD TIGERS will train tomorrow, but coach Daryl Powell admits what happens after that is uncertain.
Castleford Tigers head coach Daryl Powell. Picture: Tony Johnson.Castleford Tigers head coach Daryl Powell. Picture: Tony Johnson.
Castleford Tigers head coach Daryl Powell. Picture: Tony Johnson.

Tigers’ players have not been together since Monday when the Rugby Football League (RFL) and Super League announced a shutdown of all levels of the sport, until at least April 3.

Castleford’s games away to Salford Red Devils on Friday and at home against Leeds Rhinos six days later have both been postponed.

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If the suspension is lifted on April 3, Tigers’ first match will be a Coral Challenge Cup tie that weekend at Betfred Championship side York City Knights.

Powell said: “We are training [tomorrow] and then we are going to get our heads together with the players and explain the current situation and the potential implications down the track.

“It is an awkward one; nobody has got any experience of this so we are working our way through it as best as we can, guided by the government and the way things go from a health and medical perspective.”

Powell said the way Tigers train has been adjusted to minimise the risk from coronavirus.

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“We are reducing the sizes of training groups,” he confirmed.

“There’s no contact on any of what we are doing and no ball work at the moment.

“It is just about keeping our fitness levels where they need to be.

“It is a pretty difficult situation, not knowing when we potentially would play again.

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“It is just a case of doing your best to keep yourself as fit and ready as you can, while also protecting the players and their families.”

With no certainty over when rugby will be given the go-ahead to resume, Powell admitted: “In terms of planning, it is pretty difficult.”

But he stressed: “You do have to plan and you have to consider all eventualities.

“It is very difficult for all businesses and sport in particular is going to be badly hit because you need people to watch the sport to make it work.

“Clearly that’s not going to be happening at the moment.”