Rugby league has returned to the Northern Inland Academy of Sport.
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The Tamworth Services Club rugby league program, which usually commences in April, was put on hold due to the global COVID-19 pandemic.
With restrictions having eased in NSW, NIAS were able to get the program off the ground and running, albeit a little modified to previous years.
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Rugby league has been a major program offered since it first began in the academy five years ago.
Every year since, NIAS has selected around 25 talented young athletes across New England to become a part of the squad.
However, this year the program has been altered to adapt to COVID-19 restrictions and ensure a vast array of athletes from across the region don't miss out on an important year of their development in rugby league.
As such, NIAS opened up the squad to young players residing in the Group 4 and Group 19 rugby league areas, and also expanded it to include Group 21 players.
Peter Stevens, pathways manager of the Greater Northern Region of NSWRL, said: "It is great to again be working with NIAS in 2020.
For some of our players, due to COVID restrictions, they have had limited rugby league, and this program will assist in the development of players throughout the region."
The squads across all three groups have welcomed a total of 87 players into the program for this year. Training began last week in Inverell, followed by sessions in Tamworth and Aberdeen.
There will be two training sessions, with players exposed to top rugby league coaches in the region.
NIAS's Sports Programs and Events manager, Brent Hartley, said it is positive to see the enthusiasm from the region's athletes towards the modified program.
"It's been a difficult year for everyone," he said.
"So it's especially great to see this program come to fruition and have so many young athletes motivated to develop their skills, especially when representative competitions have been put on hold."
There will be inter-squad matches, which will sharpen players ahead of trials for the 2021 Greater Northern Tigers' under-16 program.
