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From http://www.google.com/hostednews/ukpres ... VHqymlB3jw

Quote:Rugby league could complete a move away from winter by next season after officials claimed there was a groundswell of support for summer rugby.

Super League led the way with a switch to summer in 1996 and was followed by the semi-professional Championship and the pioneering Rugby League Conference, leaving the rest of the amateur game and the junior and schools competitions ploughing a lone furrow in the winter.

David Gent, the Rugby Football League's director of participation and strategic partnerships, is leading a consultation exercise with amateur governing bodies and youth organisations to assess the mood of the game and have an April 30 deadline to gauge support for the move.

RFL national development manager Andy Harland said: "There has been some very positive debate and I am sensing that the youth and junior clubs are the ones most keen to switch.

"There is no reason why it could not happen in time for next season. I haven't heard anybody who is against it."

Armed with a £29.4million windfall from Sport England, the RFL have set out an ambitious strategy to increase playing numbers by the end of 2012, when the grant is due for renewal.

Gent said the League have realistic plans to create 5,000 more teams and increase the number of adults playing the game from under 60,000 to more than 92,000 in the next two years.

Organisers also aim to increase the number of women and girls playing rugby league from just under 4,000 to 20,000 by 2012.

So, do we all yearn for summer rugby? Will players chose NWC, Yorkshire, Cumbria leagues etc. over RLC? Are we diluting the player base even further?

Author:	mmp [ Thu Apr 01, 2010 3:25 pm ]
Post subject:	Re: Summer Rugby everyone?
It might not be a distinction between summer conference or NWC etc. in winter. The exercise is involving the Barla leagues too and asking them to consider a switch. NWC secretaries have been asked to discuss the 4 options with their players and provide NWC with a view. I first asked my players last month, pretty comprehensive support for summer then. yet one of the alternative options (i.e. which involve having mid-winter breaks) is leading the way on our facebook vote...

Author:	west bank [ Thu Apr 01, 2010 3:59 pm ]
Post subject:	Re: Summer Rugby everyone?
having played in the summer conference for the past 2 seasons i fully regret playing last season as it didnt allow me any time to recover so i have had a season were i have missed a few games and carried knocks through out the season. i blame this on the hardness of the grounds in the summer, a longer winter break is the way forward winter rugby is what it is 34 player gettin rotten shower afterwards then a pint afterwards dont change things because few faries dont like the cold.

Author:	Cronus [ Thu Apr 01, 2010 5:18 pm ]
Post subject:	Re: Summer Rugby everyone?
The concept of summer rugby is fantastic: blue skies, sun, almost no postponements due to weather, etc, etc...but the reality is different. We played in the Merit League last year and while it's true the weather was better, remember a dry pitch can be as hard as a frozen pitch, and often won't take a stud, and the weather can be too hot to run around in. Professional and bigger teams can water their pitches and have groundsmen to keep them lush, unlike us lot further down running around on threadbare school and council pitches. The major benefit of summer rugby for me however would be training in a decent environment on week nights. I'm undecided - I think I'd prefer to play winter rugby with structured breaks to avoid the maddening frustration of so many last-minute cancellations due to weather, but I'd prefer to train in the summer!

Author:	widnes tiger [ Fri Apr 02, 2010 9:19 am ]
Post subject:	Re: Summer Rugby everyone?
the problem with the winter break west bank is how many lads would turn up to train knowing that theres gunna be no game for at least 2 months. for us and im sure its the same at most clubs in the lower leagues, some lads cant be arsed training when they know theres a game on saturday let alone knowing that theres no game for 2 months. and that to me is not fair on the lads that want to train to keep fit and try tomake the team perform better on the field. so for me id rather keep it as it is and then lads who want to play winter and summer (like my good self) can have the choice to do that.

Author:	oswald [ Tue May 18, 2010 9:23 am ]
Post subject:	Re: Summer Rugby everyone?
Im sorry but do not agree with you about hard ground , how do you think the kids in brisbane cope with the ground, their is also such thing as firm ground boots and soft ground boots if you look carefully when buying.As for millys point i think if you started the league at the right time just as junior football finishes i think you will have kids banging on your door to join, i no if my son wished to try the sport i would be knocking and ringing local clubs in warrington.

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Author:	Morning Glory [ Tue May 18, 2010 12:07 pm ]
Post subject:	Re: Summer Rugby everyone?
Hard ground isn't the problem, it's the cr*p state of the pitch in the first place thats the problem. Some of the pitches are quite frankly disgraceful through poor maintenance and probably over use through the winter. Maybe if they weren't used during the winter they would be in an inherently better condition come summer time? Summer rugby, or the RLC shouldn't be dismissed because it has brought some benefits for the game in general - a way of introducing new lads to the game in a way where they can easily find their 'feet' level wise and also the merit system. This is something the NWC should take on board for their division 6. It would really give new start teams a way of getting established without the pressure of having to play every week with all the issues that come with that.

Author:	Cronus [ Tue May 18, 2010 8:18 pm ]
Post subject:	Re: Summer Rugby everyone?
I do know my bloody forearms and knees were lacerated to buggery a few weeks ago after playing our final game on a very dry and hard surface.

Author:	BooBoo8 [ Wed May 19, 2010 4:22 pm ]
Post subject:	Re: Summer Rugby everyone?
I like the dry pitches...i can then use my speed and side-step

Author:	Cowiesarse [ Mon May 24, 2010 9:19 am ]
Post subject:	Re: Summer Rugby everyone?
Would a break from Nov 1st say to the end of Jan amke that much a difference to things anyway?....I don't think so. Our last scheduled game this season should have been on Sat 27th February. Our LAST game in fact ending up being on 1st May. Granted we did lose out on games through playing 4 in the Lancashire Cup, but why can the Lancashite cup/Bowl etc not start at the beginning of August....That would give teams more of an incentive to enter, and guarantee's sides of all levels a competative pre season. Look how many times the final got postponed because of the weather. In my opinion a 3 month winter break (there or there abouts), makes sense. To inherit a break would ensure the transissional period would not see sides without league rugby for the best part of twelve months or playing back to back seasons, I think you could have the leagues wrapped up mid May, giving sides the best part of 3 months off pre season.

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