Doncaster Knights poised to begin pre-season training despite impending lockdown
Doncaster Knights are poised to begin pre-season training with a view to the Championship starting in January.
Steve Boden’s new-look squad has descended upon Doncaster over the last couple of weeks and are set to report back for duty at Castle Park to start their preparations for the new season.
The club’s training plans will not be affected by the forthcoming national lockdown because Championship rugby is classed as ‘Elite’ sport – which the government has given the green light to continue behind-closed-doors.
Championship clubs had previously voted unamiously against playing without fans but there is now a determination to return to competitive action in the new year.
The RFU, which cancelled all competitive rugby beneath the Championship for the 2020/21 season on Friday, said in a statement: "The Championship remains on course to start in January 2021, with this league subject to Government’s Elite Return to Play protocols."
Under normal circumstances Knights would ordinarily have returned to training in June/July ahead of the season starting in September.