Group 11 clubs can start planning for the 2020 season after the NSW Rugby League (NSWRL) announced on Wednesday it would look to start all community competitions in July.
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The NSWRL board, which includes Group 11 president Bob Walsh, met via Zoom on Wednesday morning and there it was decided seasons could start from July 18.
However, NSWRL chief executive David Trodden stated it will be reviewed and confirmed on June 1 as he and the board awaits any further government advice.
Trodden said the decision took into consideration the NSW Public Health (COVID-19 Restrictions on Gathering and Movement) Order 2020 which is currently preventing sport from being conducted.
It currently expires at midnight on June 29.
"Accordingly, the earliest possible return date is 30 June 2020, unless the NSW government decides to lift the Public Health order earlier," Trodden said.
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"Most winter sports favour working towards a return date of 18 July 2020, at the end of the next school holiday period, with a return to training on 1 July 2020, subject to the status of the public health in the interim.
"The board and management of NSWRL have been continuing to closely monitor developments with regards to the COVID-19 pandemic and will continue to strictly follow the government advice so that we will only return to playing footy when it is deemed safe to do so."
If a July start is not feasible Trodden said NSWRL will "adjust and reassess".
With an initial date set, the focus for the Group 11 board and clubs will now be on how the season will look.
The 2020 campaign had originally been scheduled to start this coming weekend.
A one-round season is a possibility but one not popular with all clubs while Forbes Magpies president Matt Coleman had recently proposed an eight-week competition involving both Group 11 and Group 10 clubs for 2020.
The Ron Massey Cup, Sydney Shield and Harvey Norman Women's Premiership will also resume after they had played one round prior to all competition being suspended.
Major competitions like the Canterbury Cup, Jersey Flegg, as well as country championships had already been abandoned for the year with no premiers or players of the tournament to be named in 2020.
