WINNINGTON Park Rugby Club have confirmed their plans to return to the pitch from next week.

The men’s team will resume training on Tuesday, March 30, at Burrows Hill from 7pm alongside the boys’ under 16s, under 17s and under 18s teams. Sessions will then run on Tuesdays and Thursdays every week.

Walking rugby also resumes on Tuesday at 6.45pm while Thursday, April 1, will see women’s team training resume at 7pm and continue every Thursday. O2 Touch Rugby also restarts on Thursday at 7pm and will also run on Sunday mornings at 8.30am.

Mini and junior teams from under 6s through to under 15s as well as girls’ under 13s and under 18s teams return to training on Wednesday, March 31, and continue every Wednesday as well as on Sunday mornings.

“Following the recent Government announcement about the return to community sport, Park have put plans in place to return to all forms of rugby played at the club in the coming weeks,” the club said.

“All will be played in accordance with the guidance to ensure the safe return of rugby and recognising that contact situations in the scrum and maul are not yet permitted.

“Coaching teams at Park recognise that everyone is starting again – experienced or not – at the same point having not played the game in over a year.

“Our training will reflect this with lots of fun through conditioned games to reduce contact and allow the development of rugby skills.

“So if you have moved back in with your parents, come home from university, just moved to the local area, played as a junior but then packed up or just waiting for the right time to get back into rugby, now is your chance.

“Park always welcome new players for all its teams so come on down and see what is on offer.

“We have a team for everyone – whether it’s joining the 1st XV or Walking rugby to improve your personal fitness reasons, we want to see you!

“From now until the start of the 2021/22 season which is planned to restart in September, we are planning to hold a number of games in the different formats along with competitions and festivals at our club for all our teams.”

Anyone interested in getting involved can visit the club website – wprfc.com – or contact Dave Allcock on 077932 48310.

Matches against local opposition under modified rules – without scrums and mauls – are expected to be allowed from April 26, with full contact matches under normal rules resuming from June under current plans to ease Covid restrictions.