There's leaked audio of Bristol Rovers PFA representative advising his team mates the authorities have advised him not to expect fans to be permitted in to EFL matches until January 2021.

Clearly things will be under continual review but with many experts predicting a serious re-occurrence in October/November, this seems plausible.

It's now clear we are only going to see a very minor unlock in June. There's no chance of any big sports crowds being able to attend sports events for a fair while yet.

It's a difficult one for any sport, especially stadium based sports even limited numbers then relies on segregation inside

The govt strategy has to be reviewed early may, so reckon there will be some changes then, talk of golf clubs re opening.
Think even for pro sport behind closes doors testing of players and staff going to be enforced

The governments current thinking has been fairly blatantly flagged by some pet journalists over the weekend. Unless something major changes before the announcement on Thursday, it's going to be a very minor unlock in early June.

Golf may well restart as it is relatively easy to socially distance on the course. The clubhouse is likely to be under strict restrictions or still closed.

So the suggestion is that pro sport will likely resume behind closed doors aka NRL
Don't think anyone is suggesting back to filling old Trafford with fans of any sport. But there is a definite push for some resumption.
How that will effect Broncos then becomes the discussion, second tier although gate incomes not massive for likes of batley, Halifax Swinton without fans are they likely or able to resume? I suspect not, would Toulouse have finances to re locate to UK like catalans considering.
Unlike France I think UK Govt want sport to resume at some level.

Some media outlets are now reporting the Premier League is war gaming the potential for the entire 2020/21 being played behind closed doors.

The lower levels of RL are roughly similar to football's Nationsl League. They have abandoned 2919/20 with several clubs saying closed door games would be financially disastrous. Nearly all the usual outgoings would apply with zero income. Fine if TV money pays the bills but not viable otherwise.

That's the problem, the bulk of RL clubs can't sustain playing behind closed doors with zero income and zero reward.
What seems to be forgotten at the top end without the lower end of the game very quickly the top end is dead.

In todays paper Rugby Union are saying that, large crowds for games cannot happen until a vaccine exists and is widely used in the population. Eighteen months is thought to be the minimum period that it would take.

RU are making an assumption that a vaccine will be found. Wonder where sport goes if that's not the case.

At least we wouldn't have to put up with crappy refs

Do you not like refs buzza?
Can't play the game without em

It looks as though the french government are going to ban it citizens from traveling further than sixty miles from their homes this summer. Foreign travel will be banned, except in exceptional circumstances. Where does that leave Super League and the Championship, with regards to Toulouse and Catalan?

Manna from heaven for those clubs that would prefer non traditional heartland clubs didn't exist.

Perhaps a few months of tag rugby would be an easier way of getting the season going again. Probably giving a faster game with no full on contact & it would allow players to wear masks for safety reasons.

There is more than a little merit in that.

Would sit nicely with our defence so far this season!

International travel is allowed for work purposes, I have had several clients who have travelled from Paris.bordeaux and nice in the last couple of weeks
So if playing is classed as work they would have no problems travelling.

Obviously never played tag if you think that

I have no problem with good refs. I watch amateur RU and those refs are pretty good in comparison to a lot of RL refs. Maybe because they don't seem to be out to get noticed.

Or maybe ru refs spending too much time working out what the next scrummaging penalty can be for.

Would have thought it was an excellent way to train as a half way house allowing intensity with limited contact before full contact was allowed.

But i was forgetting, you know everything & are never wrong.

Not suggesting anything about tag and fitness levels.
My response was reference to our defence being any better if they played tag! Getting a hand on the tag is not the easiest so not sure the defence would be any better

Assume you have played tag then DC?
Technically it's certainly a better game for RL skills than touch rugby, but fitness wise touch is much quicker.
RFL were originally more pro touch rugby, but have seen the light a bit and now have closer links with tag.

There is an article in the local paper today suggesting that multiple games over a weekend in one stadium to save costs would be one solution. A type of magic lockdown.

The Dutch health minister has suggested football will be behind closed doors there until a vaccine exists. If the UK goes down that route it's difficult to see it being anything other than devastating for RL. https://www.skysports.com/football/news ... h-minister

The Dutch health minister has suggested football will be behind closed doors there until a vaccine exists. If the UK goes down that route it's difficult to see it being anything other than devastating for RL. https://www.skysports.com/football/news ... h-minister