Hunslet rivals Ottawa Aces put League 1 campaign on hold

Hunslet will not face a trip to Canada next season after new club Ottawa Aces put back their entry into Betfred League One until 2022.
TD Place Stadium, where Ottawa Aces plan to play in 2020. Picture by Andre Ringuette/Getty Images.TD Place Stadium, where Ottawa Aces plan to play in 2020. Picture by Andre Ringuette/Getty Images.
TD Place Stadium, where Ottawa Aces plan to play in 2020. Picture by Andre Ringuette/Getty Images.

The Canadian club were due to join the league next year and have begun recruiting players, including scrum-half Louis Jouffret from Featherstone Rovers, but say the delay is in “the best long-term interests of the club, the competition and the sport”.

Ottawa’s announcement came at the end of a week in which Super League clubs decided not to readmit Toronto Wolfpack to their competition next year.

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The Rugby Football League (RFL) - who had backed Toronto’s readmission - say they “will now consider the implications of the deferral on the competition structure for 2021 and will work with the Aces towards entry to League One in 2022”.

The governing body added: “The RFL looks forward to maintaining a positive relationship with the Aces in their ongoing preparations.”

Ottawa’s statement said: “This decision was not taken lightly and is due to the ongoing proliferation of Covid-19 cases across the UK, and increasing numbers across Ontario, that cast doubt on the ability to travel freely between Canada and the UK in 2021. The Aces organisation will focus on making sure all players and staff are given the support they need during this difficult time.”

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