Championship and League One clubs aim for March start in 2021

Betfred Championship and League One clubs hope to be back on the field before Easter next year - even if crowds are not permitted until April.

Teams outside Super League - including Featherstone Rovers, Batley Bulldogs and Dewsbury Rams in the Championship and Hunslet of League One - have not played since mid-March because of coronavirus.

The clubs met online today (Friday) and debated a number of possible fixture schedules for 2021, all of which involve some matches in March.

That is likely to involve the return of the AB Sundecks 1895 Cup, possibly on a group basis in the early stages to allow the clubs to guarantee more home fixtures and provide the realistic prospect of reaching a Wembley final next July.

The RFL say they will continue working on detailed competition structures and fixture schedules, which will be shared with clubs this month.

A statement from the governing body added: “Clubs also agreed on the importance of working collectively to ensure they are ready to host fixtures in 2021, if necessary behind closed doors, but crucially to provide a safe and enjoyable experience for spectators when crowds are permitted again.”

It added: “The options around streaming matches for season ticket holders on the RFL’s Our League app and the introduction of games being available on a pay per view basis will also be pursued.”

RFL chief executive Ralph Rimmer said: “The Betfred Championship and League One clubs are eager to get back out on to the field after such a long and frustrating period of enforced inactivity.

“The meeting was an opportunity for them to consider a number of possible fixture schedules for 2021 drawn up by the RFL, as well as to consider the practical factors that will almost certainly remain.

“The timing of the Easter weekend at the start of April, when we all fervently hope and expect crowds to be permitted back at our grounds, provides something for us all to anticipate with relish.

“There has also been support for the continuation of the AB Sundecks 1895 Cup even in a shortened season, which will ensure that two clubs from outside the Betfred Super League reach Wembley in 2021.”

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