THERE could be a later start to the 2020 Group Three Rugby League season with the competition not kicking off until after Easter.
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Easter next year will be April 10 to 13. This will be discussed at Sunday's annual meeting to be held at the Wingham Services Club.
If agreed, the grand final will be played the first Sunday in September - the same weekend as the Group Three Junior League grand finals.
This year the senior league finished the week before the juniors.
However, Group Three chairman Wayne Bridge said the Group Three/Group Three Indigenous All Stars will be played before the start of the competition-proper. This was inaugurated in 2018 but delays in getting the playing strip this year saw the group eventually postpone it until the June long weekend. The men's game was eventually scrapped following a number of withdrawals from both sides with the women's league tag game moved from Kempsey to Tuncurry and played with junior representative fixtures.
"The All Stars game will definitely go ahead,'' Mr Bridge confirmed.
Mr Bridge understands a number of clubs are against playing an organised pre-season next year.
"Apparently they're keen to do their own thing regarding trial games,'' he said.
"So there'll probably be some talk about that on Sunday.''
No changes are expected to the group's board of management.
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"All the directors are standing again and I haven't heard if anyone else is seeking a position,'' he said.
Mr Bridge said the recent amalgamation between the Country Rugby League and the NSWRL will not have any impact on Group Three for at least 12 months.
"It will be business as usual at least for the next year or so,'' he said.
The East Coast Region annual meeting will also be held this month.
In the past the region's chairman gained a place on the CRL board. This won't be the case with the merged entity.
