Fylde RFC will thrill spectators as soon as we get the chance says chairman Mike Brennand

Plans are being drawn up to replace this season’s leagues below Championship level with a new knockout competition, starting with regionalised round-robins.

These plans were put on hold during lockdown but ‘community’ clubs like Fylde are allowed to resume training from today and to stage friendlies from December 18.

The Rugby Football Union has gained government approval for a return to 15-a-side contact rugby under adapted rules.

All the rule changes are yet to be finalised but the RFU has confirmed there will be no scrums or mauls, while lineouts must consist of five to seven players per team. A free-kick will be awarded when play would normally restart with a scrum.

Fylde have expressed their interest in entering the proposed competition and chairman Mike Brennand told The Gazette that an exciting spectacle is guaranteed at the Woodlands whatever the rules.

Following criticism of the lack of open play in Saturday’s Autumn Nations Cup encounter between Wales and England, Brennand said: “Our product at Fylde is based on extremely attractive running rugby and I hope people will come and see how entertaining it is.

“At the top level, the players are so good and the defences are so good that they resort to a kicking game. Our lads don’t play kick-tennis –they run the ball, and I hope people will remember how good it is to watch local sport and will flood back.”

The return of spectators is one issue to be finalised and Brennand admits there is much to be resolved before teams take the field again.

He added: “The RFU are making encouraging noises about the return to rugby but we are not sure how it will impact us at semi-professional level. As things stand we have a lot of limitations – we can’t travel and we can’t open the clubhouse.”

The club has been heartened by its success in obtaining grants and the willingness of volunteers to help drive the club forward.

It is almost nine months since Fylde’s last fixture but the club will not be looking to tap into the government’s £135m emergency fund for rugby union, £23m of which is earmarked for the ‘community’ sector.

Brennand explained: “A lot of this takes the form of loans and we are not going to incur any debt we have to pay back.

“We have got all the grants we can and some really talented people have come forward to volunteer their help.

“We are in the process of launching a new website, getting our database up to speed and drawing up a new social media plan.”

And as far as helping the club in difficult times is concerned, Fylde really is one big family as Brennand explained: “Our player Matt Garrod’s dad is a former senior fire officer doing a lot of work for us on health and safety, and Matt’s mum is volunteering in the shop.”