Senior duo Scott Rawlings and Phill Mills commit to Fylde RFC for next season

Two more senior players have re-signed for Fylde RFC for the 2020/21 season: powerful centre Scott Rawlings and flanker Phill Mills.
Phil Mills returned to Fylde late last year for a second stint Picture: FYLDE RFCPhil Mills returned to Fylde late last year for a second stint Picture: FYLDE RFC
Phil Mills returned to Fylde late last year for a second stint Picture: FYLDE RFC
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A big influence on and off the field, 34-year-old Rawlings is in his second spell at Fylde.

Having initially played at the Woodlands from 2014-16, teaming up with brother Gareth, Rawlings then spent three years at Sale FC before returning to Fylde last season.

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Rawlings, who previously played for Longton , Manchester and Caldy, has scored 28 tries in 90 National League games for Fylde.

Mills, 26, is also in his second spell at the club, having made 21 appearances at hooker in 2016/17.

He rejoined the club late last year, initially on loan from Rossendale, and impressed in eight appearances at open-side flanker before the season’s premature end.

Mills and Rawlings are both Lancashire and former England Counties players.

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Head coach Warren Spragg said: “Scott’s return last season brought an important extra dimension to our attacking game. He’s a devastating ball-carrier and one of the best offloaders in the national leagues.

“Millsy’s return gave us a great boost last season, adding even more dynamism to our back row options. I think he will kick on this season now that he is familiar with our style of play and be a real dominant presence in the league.”

Rawlings said: “We have a great young squad – Chris Briers and myself aside – and I’m keen to help the squad achieve as much as possible moving forward. I’m near 100 appearances over my two spells, so I’d be proud to hopefully achieve that milestone next season.

Mills said: “There was a real buzz at the back end of last season, with a view to finishing in the top two and being in with a chance of a promotion play-off.

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“Unfortunately with the current crisis that wasn’t to be but hopefully we can do the same this season to come. I very much enjoyed playing back at Fylde and there is a good bunch of lads.”

No start date for the 2020/21 season has yet been proposed, though the RFU has suggested a series of ‘competition models’ for the National Leagues.

These plans would see a full season of 30 league games played only if the campaign is able to begin by October 3.

Should the season start between then and November 28, a 22-game season is proposed, in which each club would play all the other 15 once, then split into two groups of eight for a further seven games.

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If the season cannot begin until December or January, a 15-game season is proposed, whereby all 16 teams play each other only once.

A revamp of the National Leagues, which would see each division reduced to 14 clubs and the introduction of a third league at National Two level, is already on the table for 2021/22.

The proposals for this coming season involve extending the campaign into May next year.