Super League plans for rugby league resuming in Britain and beyond suggest a 16 August restart. There are three scenarios for how the rest of the 2020 season could pan out.
In all of those possible paths, playing in front of limited crowds from 1 October is the aim. This is a key part of Super League plans as it reduces the financial impact made by behind closes doors matches.
Rugby league is not one of the most affluent sports in the UK, so it makes sense for the majority of games to have fans in attendance if possible. That is subject to government approval and social distancing rules relaxing.
There are 12 Super League sides – 10 in England, plus Catalans Dragons in France and Canadian club Toronto Wolfpack.
More than half of the teams have games in hand. Catalans have three, while Wolfpack who signed Sonny Bill Williams haven’t played a home match yet.
All possible Super League plans involve outstanding fixtures being completed in early August, plus six rounds of games behind closed doors so there is a level playing field.
Each has implications for the Challenge Cup and the three models are listed below.
Super League plans model A
- Nine rounds of matches between 1 October and 15 November
- Including five rounds of midweek games
- One playoff semi-final
- Super League Grand Final on 28 November
- Challenge Cup resumes with sixth round in late August
- Challenge Cup Final on 25 October
Super League model B
- 11 rounds of matches from 1 October
- Including five rounds of midweek games
- Super League Grand Final on 12 December
- Challenge Cup Final on 8 November
Super League model C
- 15 rounds of matches from 1 October
- Including four rounds of midweek games
- Super League Grand Final in mid-January 2021
- Challenge Cup Final on 28 November
- Brief extension to player contracts which expire in November
It’s not clear what the implications of these Super League plans are for international rugby league, however. England were to host Australia in a three-Test Ashes series this autumn.
Those internationals had 31 October, 7 November and 14 November as dates, so it remains to be seen if they go ahead.
Australia’s NRL Grand Final is on 25 October, so the Kangaroos could still tour England. Rugby league Down Under resumes on 28 May – a break of just over two months.
Under the Super League plans, the hiatus for Northern Hemisphere competition is about five months. The last top flight rugby league game was on 15 March.
Last year’s Super League winners St Helens are favourites with bookmakers for the Grand Final again this season. Fellow northwest clubs Warrington Wolves and Wigan Warriors are also prominent in the market.
Newcomers Toronto, meanwhile, are odds-on to finish bottom and be relegated back to the RFL Championship.
