Last updated at 11:53, Friday, 23 July 2010

THE Rugby League Community Board is to consult with regional leagues, clubs and players to determine the structure of the sport if it did switch to a March-November playing season.

At a meeting of the board it was agreed that full consultation with all stakeholders will take place to make sure changes to the community game season are successful.

Earlier this month the board unanimously accepted the findings of a report into proposed changes to the season’s structure that will see the bulk of the community game move to a season which kicks off in March and climaxes in November.

The new timetable is unlikely to be put in place until 2012 at the earliest, giving the board the opportunity to create a structure that works for players and clubs at every level of the sport.

Board chairman Richard Lewis said: “We had a very positive meeting and there was a lot of agreement around the table as to what the structure should look like.

“However there was full acceptance that this historic process must continue to take into account the wishes of all the people who want to play in summer or winter and the new structure will only be finalised after further consultation.”

The new proposals will be formulated over the next two months and put forward for public consultation from September 20 until November 15.

The findings of that consultation process will conclude with the board agreeing final details of the new structure at a meeting scheduled for December 3.

First published at 19:25, Thursday, 22 July 2010
Published by http://www.timesandstar.co.uk