The sky offer is no real surprise. With no real competition for the rights then sky can offer whatever they wish in reality. Combined with the state of global finances whatever happens there will be less money available.

UK PLC are planning on restrictions being in place until April if not beyond so i suspect in RL lower tier game with no income will be cut drastically again next year. If played at all.

You could argue there is currently more competition for sporting rights than there has been over the entire SL era. Sky no longer have a monopoly on TV sport in the UK primarily due to the fragmentation of Premier League rights. RL simply has to make itself attractive to a wider audience if it wants to maximise its TV revenue.

And for that it has to do more than scratch its buttocks in the M62 corridor.

Thoughts? Will fans be allowed then, I some how doubt it in Tier 4?

Who knows, two months is a long time

Under the current arrangements in England limited fans are allowed at tier 1 and tier 2 for elite sport . Tier 3 and 4 no fans allowed. That's if the Championship is designated as elite sport by RFL in agreement with DCMS. In association football the elite categorisation goes down to the sixth tier - National Leagues north and south. So Barnet, Dagenham and Redbridge and Chelmsford City are elite. They've had money from the lottery and are playing behind closed doors and live streaming games for a fee. The thinking behind this apparently is that although a few clubs in the national league and most in national league south and north are part time, players' main job is playing sport. Below that level the balance shifts and their sports earnings are the add on element. I wonder if we might end up with the championship being considered elite but league 1 not? Who knows, and as people have said a lot can change.



It makes you wonder if season ticker tickets should be sold until there's a clear prospect of fans being allowed to attend? Dagenham and Redbridge did sell season tickets and so far have managed to get fans into one league game, during the period between the English lockdown ending and London being elevated from tier 2 to tier 3. My lad was a season ticket holder there last year but didn't commit this year because of the uncertainty.

But I think the Season Ticket holders did get to stream the games for free (rather then having to pay)

Yes - certainly Dagenham did that. There's some sort of formula where season ticket holders get £9 docked from their season ticket credit and the general public pay £10 to watch the video. One risk is that you might live in area with a different level of restriction to the ground. So if Broncos were in tier 2 but you live in tier 4 you can't go! And, of course, there's the risk of not being able to go because of a requirement to self isolate because of a contact. I don't know much about Plough Lane but my sense is that Ealing would be a pretty CV19 secure venue. There's plenty of space there to spread out and pretty adequate parking arrangements (so you can avoid public transport) if you don't mind walking a few hundred yards.

https://www.rugby-league.com/article/57 ... ary-return So 8/9 weeks to get a squad together and ready to compete. Lets see it unravel.

https://www.rugby-league.com/article/57 ... ary-return So 8/9 weeks to get a squad together and ready to compete. Lets see it unravel.

Well there is supposed to be some signing news soon

The season should start irrespective of whether fans can attend. As has been said, other sports have streamed during restrictions.

Fozard is back. Heard a rumour he might be. Good signing. Experience and n a position we are short