Last night the RFL held an event to formally launch the switch to summer rugby league. The story on the RFL website can be found here: LINK. For us in Bury, like the game itself, this is a real opportunity to develop and grow.

There’s been a lot of ‘debate’ in some sections of the rugby league press as to whether the switch to summer is a good idea or not. However, the fact that so much of the community game has decided to switch shows that there was a genuine desire for the change to take place. Almost every junior club in the country will now play in summer and at open age level, just 12 sides in the North West have said they will stay on in winter. There might be more switches (either way!) – but on the whole, the community game has embraced the switch and is looking forward to the months ahead.

For us in Bury, we decided to switch some time ago and have been planning for it ever since. Quite simply, for the club and the game locally, it is the best way to go.

Our biggest issue (and cost!) has been winter training. We struggled when we just had open age players and now with juniors the problems would be worse. Training in summer means we can take advantage of the better light, the better conditions, and all at a lower-cost. For a new club like us – it’s a no-brainer!

The switch to summer also allows us to start to increase overall participation – which is exactly what the game needs and what the switch to summer should be about. We are the only RL club in a town of 180,000 people. Our aim as a club is to get people playing the game – summer is a better time in which to do it with fewer competitor sports being played and it being a more enticing prospect in summer sun compared to winter mud – especially for kids!

In 2012 then we finally get to see if summer rugby really is better and we are already seeing the positive effects.

This Sunday we should see our first ever junior sides start their league campaigns (subject to a few admin issues) at Under 11s and Under 9s and we have a training group of Under 7s underneath who may get the odd game. We had over 30 youngsters train last Sunday and have had close to 50 kids ‘try-it’ at rugby league over the last few months. These are genuinely the future of the club – and it’s great that we’ve got them ready to go.

While at open age training numbers are already up with some still to return. We’re only two weeks into a pre-season and things are looking good. A few new lads, including some Union players giving it a go means we’re genuinely thinking about whether we can run a 2nd team too.

So maybe five teams in 2012. Not bad for a club that started with absolutely nothing just fours years ago! Bring on summer rugby…

Open Age Fixtures can be found here: LINK

Under 11s Fixtures can be found here: LINK

Under 9s fixtures can be found here: LINK