New England Rugby: Decision on remainder of 2021 season pushed back

The competition has been suspended since Armidale was plunged into lockdown on August 7, Tamworth and then all of Regional NSW promptly following.

In a statement following a meeting on Monday night between the executive, clubs and referee representatives, the zone said it "will await the announcement regarding the lifting of ongoing restrictions in Regional NSW (which are in place until August 28) ... and any advice on return to play protocols before making any further decisions".

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Adding to that, president David Clifton said, there "are a lot of considerations" and they were "not able to make a fully informed decision at this stage".

"There's a lot of ifs, buts and maybes about where we go at this stage," he said.

"We'll have another meeting with the presidents and executive next Monday."

Speaking with The Leader last week, Clifton said he believed it would be impossible to restart the season. His main reasoning was the closure of UNE and the implications that would have for the two university-based clubs: St Alberts and Robb with a lot the players having returned home.

That is going to be one of the clouds hovering over any resumption with it unclear whether they will even be able to get back.

But, Clifton said, the indication from the clubs on Monday night was that if the region was "released" from lockdown this weekend "there was a good possibility that their players will come back".

He said Deputy Premier John Barilaro's comments on Monday that somewhere like Tamworth (and Armidale) would "lend itself perfectly" to exiting lockdown should the government adopt an LGA approach, had "changed the thinking a bit" and was one of the factors in deciding to delay a decision.

"The consensus was what's another week," he said.

"We're here to provide football for our clubs so let's give it our best shot."

The zone has already determined to abandon the remaining two rounds of the regular season and, should they get the green light, proceed straight to the finals.

It said it will continue to take advice from NSW Health and the Office of Sport in alignment with NSW Country Rugby Union before finalising a decision on the 2021 season.

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