More Championship and League 1 clubs decline invitation to play in RFL's autumn tournament

MORE than half of Championship and League 1 clubs have now declined an invite to play in the Rugby Football League’s autumn tournament, putting the competition in doubt.
The RFL's autumn tournament has been thrown into further doubt. Picture: Alex Whitehead/SWpix.com.The RFL's autumn tournament has been thrown into further doubt. Picture: Alex Whitehead/SWpix.com.
The RFL's autumn tournament has been thrown into further doubt. Picture: Alex Whitehead/SWpix.com.

Bradford Bulls were the first club to formally confirm their intention to play after securing a Covid-19 testing plan through the NHS, although they insist they will only compete if fans are allowed to return.

The Championship and League 1 seasons were cancelled last month after only a handful of matches were played before the sport was shutdown in March.

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Batley Bulldogs and Dewsbury Rams are still keen to play in the proposed RFL competition, which will have a prize pot of £250,000, but their involvement will depend on them securing Covid-19 testing at an affordable price.

So far the clubs to have pulled out are; Coventry Bears, Halifax, Hunslet, Keighley Cougars, Newcastle Thunder, North Wales Crusaders, Oldham, Rochdale Hornets, Sheffield Eagles, Swinton Lions, Toulouse Olympique, West Wales Raiders, Whitehaven, Widnes Vikings, Workington Town.

It is understood that eight clubs will need to compete for the tournament to go ahead, with nine clubs - including the Rams and the Bulldogs - still undecided.

And Bulldogs boss head coach Craig Lingard fears that not enough clubs will want to participate.

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“They have said they need eight teams to make it a worthwhile competition and I am struggling now to see which eight teams are going to say yes,” said Lingard.

“Bradford are in, potentially Dewsbury and maybe Featherstone and then ourselves but outside of them four teams, I can’t see any other teams who are likely to do it.

“The majority of teams have already made their decision and there are only a handful of teams who are yet to express what their thoughts are.

“It certainly looks unlikely that it is going to happen.”

Dewsbury chairman Mark Sawyer understands why many clubs have already declined their invite to compete.

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There are big financial challenges facing every club following the coronavirus outbreak, with the Government Job Retention scheme saving several clubs from even more troubling money issues.

Batley and Dewsbury are believed to be in discussions with Kirklees Council over a joint-testing programme that if successful would see both clubs enter.

Sawyer added: “Absolutely I understand why clubs might not join. Some people are worn down by all the issues involved in working so hard just to keep their clubs going.

“But although there are costs there, we think it is worthwhile, and the way I look at it, we’re going to have to face up to this sooner or later. We may as well welcome the experience now and deal with it.

“Nobody knows what’s ahead of us – there are 101 questions and no answers.

“Whether the competition happens in the end only time will tell.”