NRL announces 20-round comp will resume on May 28, grand final to be played on October 25

Rugby league fans right across Australia were rejoicing on Tuesday when the NRL announced more details about its highly anticipated return including the length of the season.

A 20-round campaign will be contested, resuming on May 28, with the grand final to be played on Sunday, October 25.

The two rounds that were already contested in March will count and the ladder following those two rounds will remain the same when the season recommences.

The Australian Rugby League Commission, which is the single controlling body and administrator of the game in the country, said that Tuesday was a “landmark day” for the game.

“Today is a landmark day for rugby league in 2020,” ARLC chief executive Peter V’landys said on Tuesday.

“This is a great outcome for our players, fans, partners and stakeholders and I’m extremely appreciative for the cooperation and support from Hugh Marks (Nine chief executive) and Patrick Delany (Foxtel chief executive).

“Both have always acted in good-spirit and have demonstrated how partners work together.”

The NRL said on Tuesday that training will recommence for all clubs on May 4 and strict biosecurity measures, known as Project Apollo Protocols, will be introduced for players, club officials and staff.

These protocols will be more strict than the current public health guidelines and players will face sanctions if they breach the protocols.

V’landys said it was clearly safer to play now than it was when the competition proceeded in round two.

“It’s safer now to play than it was in round two when we were playing,” he said.

“The daily infection rate in NSW was 25.79 per cent when the last game was played.

“It has now been less than one per cent in NSW for the last 18 days and is continuing to drop.

“There has also been a significant improvement in the recovery rate, being 75 per cent in NSW and 83% in Australia.

“Our players will be safer under our protocols than they would be as regular members of the community.”

The New Zealand Warriors are expected to arrive in Australia this Sunday and it is anticipated they will serve 14-days quarantine in Tamworth.

The NRL is continuing to work with federal and state governments on player travel and border permissions.

An NRL.com report on Tuesday said that the competition draw would be determined in the coming weeks including the timing of State of Origin, and that under the 20-round format, teams will play five opposition clubs twice in the revamped competition before a normal finals series takes place.

The return of the NRL season will also see the return of some tipping competitions, including The Courier’s Reader Tipster Competition and Business House Challenge.