GROUP Three Rugby League has decided to cancel the 2020 premiership.
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This follows a vote by the clubs.
"The loss of sponsors was the major contributing factor along with the uncertainty regarding Covid 19,'' Group Three chief executive Mal Drury said.
"We will convene a general meeting to discuss certain issues once restrictions are lifted and we return to some form of normality.''
The NSWRL last week said competitions throughout the State could start playing football from July 18.
However, Group Three clubs were against the idea.
The majority are sponsored by licensed clubs or hotels and these remain shut, with no date yet announced when they might be able to re-open. There were also doubts as to whether spectators would be able to attend games, further impacting on income streams.
The length of the season and possibly playing games in late October was another factor, some clubs said, while the cost of paying registration/insurance fees, said to be as much as $15,000, also worried clubs.
Port Macquarie Sharks president Dave Smith said it wouldn't be financially viable to run a competition starting in July.
"We couldn't play our players. We need money from our major sponsor and with the pubs shut that's now impossible. We won't be able to have crowds to our home games because of the restrictions so we couldn't run a bar or a canteen,'' he explained.
Wauchope coach Anthony Boyd said the costs involved with sponsorship and registration/insurance would be prohibitive, especially as the club's major sponsor has also been impacted.
"We don't want to ruin clubs financially,'' he said.
"I just can't see how we can play this year.''
Port City's Geoff Kelly said it would be impossible to play a competition this year.
As with the other clubs, he said finance would be the major stumbling block.
"Clubs would go broke,'' he said.
Group Three chairman Wayne Bridge had misgivings about the competition starting, but stressed the final decision would be up to the clubs.
However, Group Three Junior Rugby League will work towards starting their competition from July 15.
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