A BRIEF look at what's made the rugby league headlines over the past week, in case you missed any of this news and want to stay in the loop:
- Super League clubs can start preparing to host matches from round three of the 2021 Betfred Super League. Each of the first two rounds will be played at one neutral venue.
- Keighley Cougars have incorporated the Progress Pride Flag on their playing kits for the 2021 rugby league season as they step up the fight for inclusivity in sport.
- Hull KR have released winger Nick Rawsthorne from the last year of his contract to enable him to rejoin his home-town club Halifax.
- Betfred Super League’s traditional Easter derbies will be played at the end of August in the hope they will be played in front of bumper crowds, it has been announced.
- Championship club York have signed Warrington half-back Riley Dean on a season-long loan deal.
- Leading Super League referee James Child has spoken publicly about his sexuality for the first time and revealed he has been the target of death threats.
- Gavin Henson can provide the answer to Wales’ goal-kicking problems in the 2021 World Cup, says coach John Kear.
- England international George Burgess says he will draw encouragement from Andy Murray’s successful return to tennis as he strives to save his rugby league career.
- Catalans Dragons have been given the go-ahead to start pre-season training but they will do so without Israel Folau and new signing Dean Whare.
- John Kear has called on the Super League clubs to hand back full control of the game to the Rugby Football League.
The top-flight clubs broke away from the RFL in 2018 and established their own board of directors to run their affairs under Robert Elstone but the latter’s decision to hand in his resignation has thrown the governance of rugby league up into the air.
- The Rugby League Benevolent Fund has announced the death of inspirational former London Broncos academy player Matt King at the age of 33.
- Championship clubs have been warned they face an “immense challenge” in fulfilling away fixtures with Toulouse following a tightening of quarantine restrictions during the coronavirus pandemic.
Elite athletes now have to follow the general public in quarantining for 10 days on returning from abroad.
Under a test-to-release scheme, people can pay for a private Covid-19 test and end their quarantine if the result is negative but tests cannot be undertaken until they have been back in England for five full days.
This will affect the Championship more than the Super League because it comprises around 70% of part-time players who will need to seek time off from their regular employers.
- Super league Magic Weekend fixtures have been confirmed for St James' Park, Newcastle, in this playing order with times to be confirmed:
Saturday, September 4: Castleford v Salford, St Helens v Catalans Dragons, Leeds v Hull FC.
Sunday, September 5: Huddersfield v Wakefield, Wigan v Warrington, Leigh v Hull KR.
- Salford’s players will wear a mouthguard containing a microchip in the new Super League season to aid research into the effects of concussion.
- Former Catalans Dragons coaches Trent Robinson and Laurent Frayssinous will join forces to head up France’s assault on the 2021 World Cup.
- Catalans Dragons winger Fouad Yaha has signed a new two-year contract with the club.
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