Scottish Rugby fixtures announces for Banff, Huntly and Moray with planned start for local competitions on October 31
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BANFF, Huntly and Moray have been handed their fixtures for a scheduled return to competitive rugby next month.
There will be no league action this year, but Scottish Rugby in consultation with Scottish Rugby Council put together a regional model for local competitions to be played over the 2020-21 period.
The Tennent’s Light Caledonia North Competition 2 sees Banff, Huntly and Moray joined by Kinloss Eagles, RAF Lossiemouth, Aberdeen Grammar 2nd XV, Ross Sutherland and Stornoway.
The eight clubs will meet each other on a home-and-away basis, beginning on Saturday October 31 if no further sporting lockdown is instigated by the coronavirus pandemic.
Fixtures have been issued as follows:
Saturday 31 October
Banff v RAF Lossiemouth
Ross Sutherland v Moray
Stornoway v Huntly
Kinloss Eagles v Aberdeen Grammar 2XV
Saturday November 7
Moray v RAF Lossiemouth
Huntly v Ross Sutherland
Stornoway v Kinloss Eagles
Aberdeen Grammar 2XV v Banff
Saturday November 14
Moray v Huntly
Banff v Stornoway
Ross Sutherland v Kinloss Eagles
RAF Lossiemouth v Aberdeen Grammar 2XV
Saturday November 21
Huntly v RAF Lossiemouth
Kinloss Eagles v Moray
Ross Sutherland v Banff
Stornoway v Aberdeen Grammar 2XV
Saturday November 28
Standby date
Saturday December 5
RAF Lossiemouth v Stornoway
Huntly v Kinloss Eagles
Moray v Banff
Aberdeen Grammar 2XV v Ross Sutherland
Saturday December 12
Kinloss Eagles v RAF Lossiemouth
Ross Sutherland v Stornoway
Banff v Huntly
Moray v Aberdeen Grammar 2XV
Saturday January 9
RAF Lossiemouth v Ross Sutherland
Kinloss Eagles v Banff
Stornoway v Moray
Aberdeen Grammar 2XV v Huntly
RAF Lossiemouth v Banff
Moray v Ross Sutherland
Huntly v Stornoway
Aberdeen Grammar 2XV v Kinloss Eagles
Saturday January 23
RAF Lossiemouth v Moray
Ross Sutherland v Huntly
Kinloss Eagles v Stornoway
Banff v Aberdeen Grammar 2XV
Saturday January 30
Huntly v Moray
Stornoway v Banff
Kinloss Eagles v Ross Sutherland
Aberdeen Grammar 2XV v RAF Lossiemouth
Saturday February 6
Standby date
Saturday February 13
Standby date
Saturday February 20
RAF Lossiemouth v Huntly
Moray v Kinloss Eagles
Banff v Ross Sutherland
Aberdeen Grammar 2XV v Stornoway
Saturday February 27
Stornoway v RAF Lossiemouth
Kinloss Eagles v Huntly
Banff v Moray
Ross Sutherland v Aberdeen Grammar 2XV
Saturday March 6
RAF Lossiemouth v Kinloss Eagles
Stornoway v Ross Sutherland
Huntly v Banff
Aberdeen Grammar 2XV v Moray
Saturday March 13
Ross Sutherland v RAF Lossiemouth
Banff v Kinloss Eagles
Moray v Stornoway
Huntly v Aberdeen Grammar 2XV
Saturday March 20 - Saturday May 15
Standby dates
Full fixtures list for all regions and levels of Scottish rugby can be found here .
Scottish Rugby say the regional approach aims to help mitigate against the challenges of local lockdowns for Covid-19 outbreaks, and also reduces both the need and distances travelled to matches for teams.
An indicative start date of October 31 is being worked towards as part of Stage 6 of the Return to Rugby Roadmap for the first round of the new regional competitions.
Space in the playing calendar has been added to allow for any delays to Return to Rugby Stages 5 and 6 being implemented in light of any potential public health guidelines from the Scottish Government. Scottish Rugby will only progress to Stage 5 and 6 if it is safe to do so and have been approved by the Scottish Government.
Tennent’s continues to put its name and the Tennent’s Light brand against all the adult competitions across the male and female game.
Mitsubishi Motors will also resume its support to the Schools & Youth Conferences and discussions are on-going around the naming of the respective conferences in conjunction with the brand and its partners in the weeks ahead.
Advice to all grassroots clubs will be shared this week by Scottish Rugby to enable them to begin planning for friendly fixtures in preparation for the planned resumption of non-competitive matches on October 19, with webinars also being planned to share advice on how to deliver safe matchdays.
The regionalised schedule of competitions and matches is intended to be in place solely for the 2020/21 season and a set of National Competition Rules will be issued in the coming weeks to outline the way the games will be overseen by Scottish Rugby, with a lighter touch and emphasis on flexibility around match fulfilment intended.
Scottish Rugby President, Ian Barr, said: “I am really pleased clubs can now see what the season ahead looks like and they can begin planning and looking forward to playing competitive matches again. I know a huge amount of work has gone into getting us to this point and I’d like to thank everyone who has contributed to what was a complex and challenging process.
“Our hope is that teams can play as much rugby as possible in the circumstances and we encourage them to take a common sense approach to fulfilling fixtures and ensuring the sport can resume safely, at every level. I would also like to extend my thanks to Tennent’s and Mitsubishi Motors for their continued invaluable support.”
Director of Rugby Development, Sheila Begbie, said: “It is really pleasing to be able to share the fixture list for the 2020/21 season with all our clubs and schools today. It marks a very positive step and one that I know a great many people have contributed to across the game, and in our Rugby Development department, and for that I’d like to thank everyone involved.
“We are still taking a cautious approach and are committed to supporting the public health guidelines set out by the government. I wish all the teams the very best for the season ahead and hope we can have a safe and enjoyable return to rugby in the months to come.”
