Although we are still in the midst of this terrible pandemic, thankfully steps are being taken to look forward and plan for a resumption of our game.
The RFU have issued a directive for the resumption of the Community Game once the Resumption Roadmap has achieved stage six. We are currently only at stage two.
Looking at our particular league at Level 5, the intention is to split it into two localised conferences with three Models.
If rugby starts in Window 1 (on or before the 10th of October): Local competitions first, home and away competitions last.
Teams play home AND away in their group – in a 14-team league separated into two groups of seven, teams play 12 fixtures.
Upon completion of these 12 fixtures, teams play home AND away against teams in the other group, meaning teams play a further 14 fixtures (26 fixtures in total).
The league winner will be the team with the best playing record from all league fixtures.
If rugby starts in Window 2 (on or before the 28th of November): Local competitions first, home or away fixtures last.
Teams play home AND away in their group – in a 14-team league separated into two groups of seven, teams play 12 fixtures.
Upon completion of these 12 fixtures teams will play home OR away against teams in the other group, meaning team play a further 7 fixtures (19 fixtures in total).
The league winner will be the team with the best playing record from fixtures played in both groups.
If rugby starts in Window 3 (on or before the 8th of February): Local competitions only, a final playoff.
Teams play home AND away in their group – in a 14-team league separated into two groups of 7, teams play (12 fixtures in total).
There will be a playoff game between the group winners to determine the league winner.
As for Preston Grasshoppers we have been put into a group consisting of these six other sides; Blackburn, Billingham, Otley, York, Alnwick and Kirkby Lonsdale.
The other group in our league is built up of Wirral, Macclesfield, Rossendale, Sandal, Northwich, Burnage and Lymm.
There’s no mention of the normal style of play-offs, presumably because the RFU plan a complete restructuring of the League pyramid from the Championship down starting from the beginning of the 2021/22 season.
