Leeds Rhinos welcome Boris Johnson's announcement on return of fans - and World Cup organisers hopeful tournament will go ahead in front of crowds this autumn

The new Betfred Super League season is due to kick off behind closed doors next month, with all six round one matches being played at Headingley from March 25-28.

But in his statement to Parliament today (Monday) outlining the government's 'road map' out of coronavirus restrictions, Prime Minister Boris Johnson confirmed elite sport stadiums will be able to host 10,000 fans - or a quarter of their full seated capacity, whichever is smaller - from May 17.

There has been no rugby played in front of crowds in this country since March 15 last year.

Headingley, though, was used regularly last season as a venue for matches behind closed doors and Hetherington reckons that experience will help when the turnstiles reopen.

Rhinos' home ground has a capacity of around 20,000, but that includes three standing sections.

Reacting to Johnson's plan, Hetherington said on the club's website: “We certainly welcome the direction of travel in terms of the government’s plans for allowing the opening up of stadia for fans to return.

"We hope the process can be accelerated as soon as it is deemed feasible to do so given the necessary restrictions."

There have been false dawns in the past.

Rhinos and other Super League clubs were preparing for 1,000 fans to be allowed into matches from the start of October last year, but that fell through when tighter restrictions were introduced.

“Since last July, we have been proud to make Emerald Headingley available for Betfred Super League games with a great deal of hard work, time and investment going in to make the stadium a secure and safe environment for players, staff, media and broadcasters over the last six months," Hetherington went on.

"We have learned invaluable lessons and I am confident we will have everything in place to make Emerald Headingley a secure and safe venue for all the fans when they are finally able to return."

The Leeds chief added: “On behalf of everyone at the Rhinos, I would like to thank all our fans and especially our members and partners for their unstinting support and I am sure we can all look forward to the near future when we are back together again enjoying our wonderful sport.”

Rugby League World Cup 2021 chief executive Jon Dutton was also cheered by Johnson's announcement.

“We are greatly encouraged by the roadmap for the return of spectators to sports stadia, which was detailed by the Prime Minister in Parliament today," he said.

"We have remained positive and optimistic fans would be able to attend the tournament, which will be held in October and November, 2021, in England.

“We recognise there are still challenges ahead, but we very much hope that this tournament, predominantly being staged in many of the hardest hit areas across the north of England, will play a part in the nation’s pandemic recovery plan and will be the biggest and best ever Rugby League World Cup."

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