WAGGA City president Dan Ribot has called for clubs to embrace Southern Inland Rugby Union's eventual call on a season structure and "get on with it" as teams resume training this week.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
He also implored clubs to resist the temptation to withdraw from first grade to strengthen reserve grade should player numbers become an issue.
City will return to the training field on Tuesday night after SIRU gave the green light to do so under strict COVID-19 protocols late last week.
Ribot hinted there was some differences of opinion within clubs before a season make-up was settled upon, which will include one round plus finals.
"We're confident we'll be able to fill all four grades, but we're realistic about what position some of the clubs may or may not be in," Ribot said.
"If it turns out there's only first or second grade, it is what it is, but I think we need to be a bit more flexible in how we move forward.
"I know it took them a long time to finalise a draw because there was a lot of clubs protesting, everyone needs to say 'let's make the best of it'.
"We'll be happy with whatever they come up with. I'd be disappointed if there was clubs out there that said they don't have numbers to fill a first grade side and they dropped out to strengthen a second grade outfit, when not that many years ago our first grade side couldn't take a trick and we had players playing three different grades.
"Lots of clubs have done that before, I'm sure everyone's COVID isolated bodies could use a few extra games at the minute.
"We won't be jumping up and down, we'll just be getting on with it."
Ribot said the club had received a detailed list of procedures from SIRU and Brumbies Rugby they need to adhere to to comply with COVID-19 and social distancing measures at training.
READ MORE
Contact training is still prohibited, with basic fitness passing and kicking skills permitted.
Ribot said they're more than willing to comply with the rules to ensure a season gets off the grounds, but feels some of the measures are overcautious given Wagga hasn't had any reported new COVID-19 cases for some time.
"To be quite honest these laws would be fine I think if we're in Sydney," he said.
"I think you know what, if we had an infection or outbreak of some description in Wagga or Bathurst or Orange, Sydney wouldn't shut down. So it is quite frustrating that we are having to do this, but them's the rules."
