Scrums were dispensed with when Super League resumed in the summer of 2020 in a bid to reduce the number of coronavirus close contacts; Sky Sports will again be showing extensive live Super League coverage this year, including 25 games between February and April
Thursday 20 January 2022 18:46, UK
Scrums will return to rugby league in England for the 2022 season, the Rugby Football League has confirmed.
The governing body gave the go-ahead following meetings with clubs on Thursday afternoon after revealing the threshold of 85 per cent double-vaccination of players had been met across Super League and the Championship.
Scrums were dispensed with when Super League resumed in the summer of 2020 in a bid to reduce the number of close contacts in the fight to combat the spread of coronavirus.
They remained absent for the whole of 2021 and plans for their return in 2022 were put on hold in December as the governing body waited for vaccination rates to go up and to assess the impact of the Omicron variant.
A statement from the RFL said: "Following meetings with clubs from Betfred Super League, Championship and League One today, the RFL today confirms the return of scrums for the 2022 season in all competitions."
The RFL says it took into account the easing of Government regulations with regard to Covid, including the reduced isolation periods for close contacts, before accepting the recommendation of the RFL executive.
The news will be welcomed by coaches, particularly in the run-up to the delayed World Cup, which is due to start on October 15. The NRL, which will supply more than half the players, continued with scrums throughout the pandemic.
Clubs also discussed proposals to scrap points percentage to determine final league placings in 2022, with clubs forced to forfeit matches if they are unable to raise teams. In that event, they would be awarded by a 48-0 score-line to their opponents.
The plan has still to be ratified by the RFL board but looks certain to go through.
Super League club representatives also discussed the latest developments related to travel between France and the UK and their likely effects on the ability of unvaccinated players to participate in fixtures involving Catalans Dragons and Toulouse Olympique.
The league say that, with three weeks remaining until the French clubs play their first matches of the 2022 season, the clubs have agreed with the RFL and Super League Europe to keep the matter under review.
The 2022 season gets under way on next weekend with the first round of the Betfred Championship, with Super League starting on Thursday, February 10 as St Helens host Catalans Dragons live on Sky Sports.
