Newcastle Rugby League given July 18 restart date by state governing body amid coronavirus crisis

The 2020 season, which was due to kick-off last weekend, has been on hold because of the global coronavirus pandemic.

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NSW Rugby League chief executive officer David Trodden revelaed the state's senior competitions, including Newcastle RL, are aiming to get underway in three months time but may still be subject to government restrictions.

No play at all this year remains an option.

Under the latest plan, training could resume on July 1.

These prospective dates will be reassessed a month prior on June 1.

"The earliest possible return date is 30 June, 2020, unless the NSW government decides to lift the public health order earlier," Trodden said.

"Most winter sports favour working towards a return date of 18 July, 2020, at the end of the next school holiday period, with a return to training on 1 July, 2020, subject to the status of the public health in the interim.

"The board and management of NSWRL have been continuing to closely monitor developments with regards to the COVID-19 pandemic and will continue to strictly follow the government advice so that we will only return to playing footy when it is deemed safe to do so.

"The NSWRL and everyone in our rugby league community need to be responsive to the continual changes to the government advice around risks to public health for the broader community, and if it becomes apparent that a July start date is not feasible, we will adjust and reassess."

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