Super League return dates for Leeds Rhinos, Castleford Tigers and Wakefield Trinity to be confirmed this week

The date and format for Betfred Super League’s return will be decided on Friday.
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The competition has been on hold, because of coronavirus, since March 15, but club representatives will this week settle on a route back.

Betfred Championship and League One clubs will discuss their situation at a meeting on Thursday.

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Leeds Rhinos chief executive Gary Hetherington is on a working group which has drawn up options for when Super League could resume, how many matches will be played and dates for the Coral Challenge Cup decider and Grand Final.

Super League teams, including Leeds Rhinos, could be back on the pitch in August.Super League teams, including Leeds Rhinos, could be back on the pitch in August.
Super League teams, including Leeds Rhinos, could be back on the pitch in August.

“It is a board meeting so there’s all sorts of things on the agenda, but that’s probably when the Super League fixtures will get finalised,” Hetherington confirmed.

“There has been quite a lot of work done by the fixtures working group and their recommendations will go forward and ultimately be decided by all the clubs on Friday.”

Hetherington admitted plans need to be put in place.

He added: “I think there is a restlessness, people need to know and want to know.

Backroom staff, including Rhinos coach Richard Agar and director of rugby Kevin Sinfield, will have a target to aim for by the end of this week. Picture by Simon Hulme.Backroom staff, including Rhinos coach Richard Agar and director of rugby Kevin Sinfield, will have a target to aim for by the end of this week. Picture by Simon Hulme.
Backroom staff, including Rhinos coach Richard Agar and director of rugby Kevin Sinfield, will have a target to aim for by the end of this week. Picture by Simon Hulme.
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“We have always been saying we want to be up and running by August and I think by the end of this week Super League should be in a position to announce the structure of the season, number of games and so on.”

Clubs had initially hoped to fulfill the scheduled 29-round league campaign, plus Challenge Cup, play-offs and title decider, but the length of the layoff - and desire to finish the season this year rather than dragging on into 2021 - seems to have ruled that out.

“I don’t know where they are at with putting the fixtures together and I wouldn’t have thought they will announce the fixtures on Friday, but certainly we should have a start date and all the key dates,” Hetherington added.

Leeds and Wakefield Trinity both have two games in hand and could play those on the weekends of August 1/2 and 8/9, before Super League round eight on August 16.

This year's Grand Final is expected to be played in November. Picture by Steve Riding.This year's Grand Final is expected to be played in November. Picture by Steve Riding.
This year's Grand Final is expected to be played in November. Picture by Steve Riding.
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Matches are set to be played behind closed doors - at a limited number of venues - until at least the end of August, but clubs hope crowds will be allowed in well before the end of the season.

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