REPRESENTATIVE rugby league is back on the agenda for players aged over 23 in country areas.
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NSWRL chief executive Dave Trodden told the East Coast Region annual meeting in Coffs Harbour that the under 23 representative format that has been in place since 2017 will be scrapped in favour of open age.
North Coast, made up of players from Groups Two and Three, will play two matches on February 27 and March 6. This will be in a revamped regional championship. The draw has yet to be announced.
Group Three chairman Wayne Bridge attended the meeting. He said no explanation was given as to why the NSWRL has decided to do away with under 23s in favour of opens.
However, he said selecting a North Coast side for next year's games will present some logistical problems for Groups Two and Three.
"Neither group had a senior competition this year because of COVID,'' Mr Bridge pointed out.
"So we haven't got too much to go on regarding selecting players.''
Group Three's 2021 season won't start until April 10 with Group Two also to kickoff in April.
Mr Bridge expects players named in the 2019 North Coast under 23 side to be approached.
"Both groups have got some work to do,'' he admitted.
Mr Bridge suggested delaying the representative season until later in the year.
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"But the response was that there's never a right time to play rep footy. Once the season starts clubs are reluctant to release their players because of injury concerns. I accept that,'' he said.
Mr Bridge said Illawarra and Newcastle would play in a separate competition.
He added the February 27 and March 6 games would be played in conjunction with the Andrew Johns (under 16) and Laurie Daley (under 18) cup rounds. He understands North Coast women will also be involved.
"This is all part of the re-birthing of the City/Country games,'' he said.
Country under 16 and 18 teams will be selected to play metropolitan sides next year.
Mr Bridge isn't sure if a senior Country side would be named in 2021. However, Country won't tackle NRL-strength teams.
"They'll play a side selected from the Ron Massey Cup,'' he said.
(The Ron Massey Cup is a semi-professional development level competition).
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