Wigan Warriors reveal return to training plan

Bevan French in training with Wigan before the season was halted

Players have been told they will report back on July 20 to start preparing for their season’s restart on the weekend of August 8.

During lockdown they trained on their own until a month ago, when outdoor sessions in groups of six or less were allowed.

But due to social distancing rules they have not been able to do any contact sessions.

Those will be allowed when training officially starts again.

Players and coaches will all undergo regular coronavirus testing from next week.

Their return to training – which presumably means they will be taken off the government’s furlough scheme – is in line with their Super League rivals.

Hull FC had indicated they will return on the 20th, while St Helens will report back on the 13th though they play a catch-up game a week earlier as part of a triple-header at Headingley.

Catalans players were due to return to training first, from yesterday. But they were forced to postpone their restart date until Friday after being asked to go undergo further tests by the RFL.

This season has been trimmed to 22 rounds, meaning Wigan have 15 league games still to play.

They also have a Challenge Cup tie with Warrington to look forward to, on the weekend of Aug 23 – Wigan’s third game back.

The Warriors’ league fixtures, and venues, have not been revealed but are expected to be confirmed tomorrow.