Doncaster RLFC: RFL suspend fixtures until April 3 at the earliest

Following a meeting of Super League, Championship and League One clubs on Monday, the respective governing bodies decided to postpone the season until April 3 at the earliest.

But given that the country faces restrictions on mass gatherings and travel for weeks to come due to the coronavirus outbreak, there seems to be no likelihood of any major sport resuming next month.

In contrast to both Doncaster Rovers and Doncaster Knights, whose campaigns were heading into the final straight prior to the decision by the EFL and RFU to put their respective campaigns on hold, the Dons have only just got out of the blocks and have only played two league games in addition to two Coral Challenge Cup games.

No one at the Keepmoat Stadium club is more disappointed that the 2020 season has been put on hold, and faces the real prospect of being scrapped altogether if the pandemic proves to be as serious as predicted, than play-maker Matty Beharrell.

A key figure in the club’s promotion bid, the scrum-half was ‘nursed’ in training in the second half of last season after picking up an injury to his kicking leg and often suffered discomfort during games.

Having had surgery in October to correct the problem, Beharrell had been looking forward to making a big impact playing alongside the likes of former England star Rangi Chase - a man of whom great things are expected after a full pre-season campaign.

“I missed most of pre-season and didn’t play until the first game of the season but I’m feeling good now and getting fitter every game and I had been looking forward to Sunday even though the home fans would probably have given me a bit of grief,” he said.

The Hull-based player had played for the West Yorkshire side prior to joining the Dons after becoming a free agent when they ran into financial difficulties a couple of years ago and were unable to honour players’ contracts.

“Had the match gone ahead we would have expected a tough afternoon because they’ve recruited well and I’m sure they would have started the season with the aim of making the play-offs after missing out last year due to a points deduction,” said Beharrell who had been due to face former Dons scrum-half Jack Miller – the son of former club coach Tony Miller.