GROUP Three Rugby League could change the Saturday April 4 women's Group Three All Stars/Indigenous All Stars game at Kempsey from league tag to rugby league.
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Chairman, Wayne Bridge said the Macleay Valley club has asked the group to consider the switch. Mr Bridge said the group would seek input from players before making a decision.
However, Mr Bridge added the group won't be following the path of the Northern Rivers Region Rugby League (NRRRL) and scrapping league tag in favour of rugby league for women in 2020.
Mr Bridge admits he he was surprised when he saw a television news report on the NRRL decision earlier this week.
"They only just started league tag there about two or three years ago,'' he said.
"And according to the report they have 62 players ready to play rugby league. That's really only four teams - they have eight league tag sides up there.''
Mr Bridge will have further discussion on the matter with NRRRL officials at Saturday's East Coast Region meeting to be held at Coffs Harbour.
There's only a handful of players who want rugby league
- Group Three chairman Wayne Bridge
"I'm keen to hear why they want to make the change,'' he said.
However, he said there's no push from Group Three clubs to switch from league tag to rugby league and little interest among players.
"There's only a handful of players who want rugby league,'' he said.
Country Rugby League women's participation officer Kylie Hilder has said previously that of 100 league tag players, only around 40 would be keen to play rugby league.
Group Three and the Hastings League is currently running a women's nines competition and this will conclude early next month.
From the nines a North Coast train-on squad to play in next year's Country Championships will be named. This will be 13-a-side rugby league and the championships will be a pathway for selection in Country teams.
Mr Bridge said there is an avenue to run women's rugby league tournaments in the group's two free weekends in next season's competition.
No games are set down for the June long weekend and July 18/19 unless required to play deferred fixtures.
"That's something we could talk to the clubs about,'' he said.
Group Three was a league tag pioneer in the Country Rugby League, with the competition starting in 2009.
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