Trying to plot a way back into action with Doncaster RL chief

Club and Rugby Football League officials met remotely on Wednesday when cancelling the 2020 campaign was one option discussed due to the crippling effects of Covid-19.

Some clubs are known to believe it will not be financially feasible to resume the season especially if it is behind closed doors with no paying spectators able to help offset the costs.

As soon as they start training once more, players will have to come off furlough and many owners are understandably worried about that prospect.

No decision was reached during the meeting and, instead, it was decided to set up two working groups to look at the possibility of playing behind closed doors for broadcast, something the Government has said could happen from June 1.

One will explore the costs and logistics behind returning in such circumstances while the other will discuss potential options of revenue to offset costs.

Hall – in charge of a Doncaster side hoping to earn promotion from League 1 – told The Yorkshire Post: “One thing is we’re all pretty united on things.

“Everyone is missing the sport like mad as you can imagine. The big thing is we have to be a little patient, and be led by the Government and all the protocols.

“Yes, we all want the game back and to be playing quick but we all understand we have to make sure safety is paramount.

“The players I’ve spoken to these last few days are all itching to get back but they all understand, too, the safety-first approach.

“We’ll put these groups together to look at costings as there’s a lot more to just playing behind closed doors.

“With the medical issues involved, it is deeper than that.”

Although clubs have access to the £16m Government loan secured by the RFL, some are worried it may not be enough to cover the financial outlay.

But New Zealander Hall, whose year’s service as RFL vice-president draws to a close at the end of next month, is adamant positive progress will be made.

He said: “I never got any vibe of anyone wanting to can the season. I get the vibe the majority want to crack on playing – it’s just whether it’s behind closed doors or not. If that is the option, we need to be positive on how we can look after season-ticket holders, supporters and all that sort of thing, too. It’s not just the playing side you have to consider but you have to involve your fans as well as these are the people who pay their hard-earned money for their season-tickets.

“We have to take all the emotion out of it and just think logically to get to the best point and we’ll start when we start.”

Most League 1 clubs, who are all part-time like most of the Championship, had played just two fixtures when the season was shutdown in March.