Why FNQ rugby coach will back one grade vision

The need for rugby to be played in Far North Queensland should outweigh the desire for two grades of competition, according to Mudcrabs coach Russell Todd.

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The need for rugby to be played in Far North Queensland should outweigh the desire for two grades of competition, according to Mudcrabs coach Russell Todd.

A high-profile trial game against ACT Premier Division side Wests and a pre-season clash between Mudcrabs and newly-returned A-grade side Wanderers is all the 15-man code managed before the coronavirus pandemic shut down community sport.

There’s no set date for a return to action, though framework identified by the Australian Institute of Sport has set a path for its return, and FNQ Rugby’s competition will undoubtedly look different to the one initially planned.

When rugby is cleared to resume, Todd called for officials to consider running the 2020 season as one competition.

“I’m a believer in a two-grade system but there’s more importance on playing rugby this year,” Todd said.

“If FNQ Rugby does go for one team per club, you’d like to think a few clubs with too many players for one team would allow them to play elsewhere so they can play.”

Mudcrabs expected to welcome back most of last year’s senior squad, which won the reserve grade title and were competitive in A-grade, with a handful of additions.

But he conceded the squad could look vastly different as a number of players lost work due to the pandemic’s impact.

Community rugby is currently suspended until June 1, and FNQ Rugby has already declared its flexibility when it comes to providing a season.

Originally published as Why FNQ rugby coach will back one grade vision