Rugby is back from the COVID-19 wilderness, with other sports, Olympic prospects set to follow

Community rugby union is on the verge of a return from the COVID-19 wilderness, with a possible season start date being revealed, as other local sports are set to follow.

Community rugby union in Queensland is on the verge of a return from the COVID-19 wilderness, with other local sports set to follow and the training hand break released for Olympic Games’ prospects.

The QRU late Friday announced training would resume in early June for a possible July start for community rugby – Health Department advice pending.

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News followed Thursday’s exclusive online report by Quest Newspapers and The Courier-Mail that several community sporting organisations would resume “soft’’ training in late May and June, with a view to resuming in early July.

“The organisations were also anticipating state government health permission to allow training in small numbers by late May, with several local sporting organisations preparing for a July start,’’ Quest’s reported stated

Ethan Dobbins of Brothers is tackled by Joseph Avauli and Callum MacDonald of Souths during the Under-19 rugby union match last year. (AAP Image/Regi Varghese)

The current Queensland Health Order preventing sporting training or playing in groups expires on May 1.

And other sports like BRL were known to be considering a similar model to that of the QRU, providing the COVID-19 health situation does not deteriorate.

The movement of the rugby codes is encouraging to sports like rowing, athletics, swimming, softball, triathletes and the like whose athletes can do small group training with ease.

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Gymnastics organisations also hope to escape being lumped under the same umbrella as gyms when the public health order is reviewed on May 19.

School organisations like GPS, QGSSSA, AIC and CaSSSA will also be eagerly watching developments ahead of meetings next month.

PM Scott Morrison at the Brothers Rugby Club last year.

In addition, Prime Minister Scott Morrison has touted lifting training bans on Olympic sports which will be music to the ears of athletes around the county eager to restart group preparations for the 2021 Tokyo Games.

Two weeks ago Dean Boxall, coach of the No. 1 swimming club (St Peters Western) in Australia, called for Olympic swimming prospects to be allowed to resume training in limited numbers while adhering to strict guidelines. And it looks like he is about to get his wish.

Friday’s statement by the QRU CEO David Hanham said: “Like all Queenslanders we’ve noted the recent metrics from the Queensland government and their health experts that suggest that social distancing and other policy measures are flattening the curve on COVID-19 infections in this state.

“In working with a range of internal and external stakeholders on the future lifting of the current suspension of community Rugby in Australia, we remain cautiously optimistic that the road map we’ve created could see a return to community rugby training on June 1 with competitive Rugby matches – at senior and junior level – to resume on July 1.

“We recognise that this plan is contingent on continuing positive health trends within Queensland but the actions of Queenslanders over the last few weeks are giving us confidence that these resumption dates are an achievable aim.

Townsville Rugby Union. North Ward v Brothers at Mike Carney Toyota Park.

“The QRU’s GM of Community Rugby, Gaven Head, will continue his extensive consultative planning work with a range of stakeholders to continuously assess the timelines within this road map, to ensure that when Rugby is able to resume, it does so in a safe and managed way, while ensuring federal and state protocols are being observed and enforced.

“In terms of the resumption of elite professional Rugby, we continue our discussions with Rugby Australia and various federal and state agencies and today’s announcement is separate to that ongoing piece of work.”