Coronavirus: Cairns junior rugby league makes decision on season
The Cairns District Junior Rugby League presidents met on Thursday night to determine what their 2020 season, if any, would look like.
News
Don't miss out on the headlines from News. Followed categories will be added to My News.
- Banned FNQ trainer: ‘I was in the dark’
- Sports Minister’s call on Taipans’ home court chaos
- Northern Pride vows to find a way to play
- Why the game isn’t over for the U18s - yet
Junior rugby league will be played in the Far North.
The Cairns District Junior Rugby League on Thursday night a season will still be run in 2020, but with a number of changes.
Only competitive age groups - under-13s to under-16s - will be organised by the CDJRL, though they will not play for glory with no finals campaign on offer, or trophies and awards to be given out.
There will be no girls competition due to a lack of numbers, with clubs to run any games for players from under-6s to U12s.
CDJRL chairman Jodi Stevens said that while clubs entered the meeting from vastly different situations, they were happy with the outcome.
“It would’ve been good to have all of the age groups but the clubs will do their best to run games and gala days for the younger kids,” she said.
“The clubs were happy to go with that.
“We’ll play the majority of our games at Jones Park so they can organise those games and play them at their home grounds.
“Some clubs wanted all grades to run, other clubs are struggling with volunteer numbers, but the most important thing was they wanted those older age groups to get on the field.”
The competitive age groups are notorious for their drop-off rate, and if competitions weren’t provided there was a real fear young players would be permanently lost to the game.
While most games will be played at Jones Park, with none to be played at three fields - Redlynch, Edmonton and Mossman - as they are not fenced.
The season will run from July 31 to September 19.
Only four organisations have approved COVID Safe plans in place - Cairns Brothers, Kangaroos, Innisfail Brothers and Jones Park - and other clubs will need to their plans approved before being allowed to participate.
Meanwhile, hopes of a senior rugby league competition received a major boost with the revelation a Townsville club will consider playing a revamped Cairns District Rugby League competition.
Originally published as Coronavirus: Cairns junior rugby league makes decision on season