Castleford Tigers’ Adam Milner has been granted a testimonial for the 2021 season following over a decade of service to the club. Sitting second in Castleford’s Super League appearances chart, Adam Milner made his debut in 2010 and has gone on to feature over 250 times for the Tigers, only captain Michael Shenton has played in more top-flight matches.The 28-year-old is a product of Castleford’s Academy and since making his debut he has only played his domestic rugby with the Tigers, making him one of the club’s well-regarded as a one-man club. In that time, he has become a key man in Daryl Powell’s squad, lifted the League Leaders’ Shield and played internationally for England three times. Adam played for Stanley Rangers until he joined the Academy at Castleford and has been a great supporter of our club.

We're nearly two weeks through the 2nd Lockdown and will not know if community games will be able to resume after December 2nd. More information will be posted here as it becomes available.

Here is the RFL's official statement:

New Covid-19 restrictions come into force nationwide from Thursday 5 November. This means that all Community Game activity* will be suspended until at least Wednesday 2 December.

*For the avoidance of doubt this includes:

• Adult Open age: Men’s & Women’s
• Youth & Junior RL: Boys’ & Girls’
• Inclusive RL formats: Physical Disability RL; Learning Disability RL & Wheelchair RL
• Social formats: Masters RL, Touch RL, Try Tag Rugby & X-League.

If the lockdown is lifted on 2 December, existing social RL activities that have been formally notified to the RFL will then be reviewed to allow planning for a safe and Covid-19 secure resumption.

Assuming we also then revert back to the government’s tiered alert levels (1, 2 or 3 depending on geography), the RFL’s Action Plan states that no Stage 4 training or match activity should take place during December.

Our aim is to ensure that Community Rugby League activity recommences in January 2021, with the return of formal competitions scheduled for April as we build up to the Rugby League World Cup.

To help clubs keep all players, and especially younger ones, active and connected to their clubs, 'Virtual Club' activities will again be freely available online. These include physical activity sessions and mental wellbeing resources. Further information can be found on the RFL website HERE. 

Our Participation and Development team will continue to support community clubs directly with club sustainability work, such as ensuring that clubs can access grant funding and any other support available. If you have any questions on grant funding, please email National Clubs Manager John McMullen: John.McMullen@rfl.uk.com

We would like to thank everyone across the community game – volunteers, club and league administrators, players, coaches, match officials, foundations, parents and carers – for their considerable efforts during recent months. Although the time has been short, the effort has been worth it for those moments of joy returning to players’ faces. 

However, it is vital to note, we have only got this far due to this outstanding commitment and compliance of clubs following the government approved guidelines. It is now as important as ever to make sure we adhere and follow the new government guidelines. So once better days return, we can start again in earnest to make 2021 a significant year.

The RFL remains in dialogue with the DCMS, leagues and competitions and will provide further clarification for ‘non-elite’ rugby league in England following the debate in the House of Commons tomorrow in due course. 

The UK Government has confirmed that school sport can continue as an exemption during this period; schools are advised to follow the guidelines shared by the Education team. "

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Wednesday night saw the first 'training' session for our newly formed Masters team. It was great to see so many old faces back at the club enjoying been back out on the field with the lads! Thanks to Paul Field for coming and explaining the rules and ethos of Masters and also thanks to Richard Cattley for taking the lead and organising getting the team up and running.

If you're over 35 and want to give Masters a go contact us for more information - stanleyrangers@aol.com or Stanleyranger1919@outlook.com

Stanley Rangers has been carefully following the RFL's guidelines for returning players to training and hopefully games. The training times are shown on this poster and as you can see from the Under 9s upwards our teams are back to training.

The RFL's plan for a phased return to Community Rugby League, developed in partnership with community game stakeholders, has now been approved by DCMS (The Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport). The phased return is careful and incremental, and includes the following milestones* 

Week commencing 10 August: Larger group non-contact ‘opposed’ activity including Touch and Tag RL 

Week commencing 31 August: The RFL will conduct a review of current activity ahead of the proposed return to contact Rugby League training during September

The RFL's plan for a phased return to Community Rugby League, developed in partnership with community game stakeholders, has now been approved by DCMS (The Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport). The phased return is careful and incremental, and includes the following milestones* 

Week commencing 10 August: Larger group non-contact ‘opposed’ activity including Touch and Tag RL 

Week commencing 31 August: The RFL will conduct a review of current activity ahead of the proposed return to contact Rugby League training during September

October – Local friendly matches – contact Rugby League with some rule amendments including the removal of scrums 

28 November: Community Rugby League 2020 season ends 

1 January 2021: League planning for 2021 season including possible return of local and National Cups 

1 March 2021: The return of Community Game Leagues

All the detailed guidance for clubs will be shared directly with contacts on Monday 10 August and will be published on rugby-league.com. 

Stanley Rangers will continue to safely and carefully assess all the guidance given and will continue to run small group activity sessions.

 *All milestones remain subject to amendment should the national public health situation change.

The long-awaited return of Rugby League’s community game is set to be approved this week. Government sign-off on the RFL’s Return of Community Rugby League Action Plan is imminent. The phased plan outlines the return of non-contact Rugby League – including social formats such as Touch and Try Tag Rugby League. 

This phase will be followed, subject to a review led the RFL’s Clinical Advisory Group at the end of August, by a phased return to full contact Rugby League. 

Marc Lovering, RFL Director of Participation and Development, says:

“This is a major step forward for the community game and we were able to share the news with community game stakeholders first hand yesterday (Tuesday 4 August) via a series of webinars focused on Community Rugby League. 

“When our entire sport was brought to an abrupt halt in March, some parts of the community game were playing and some were yet to begin their seasons. We knew then that resumption would be fluid and complicated. 

“We didn’t want to arbitrarily curtail league and cup competitions too quickly, but instead wanted to work closely with leagues, foundations and clubs, and to respond to the situation as it unfolded. 

“We have taken a long-term approach to the evolving situation around the public health and the lockdown of sports, with the aim of keeping as many options open for as long as possible.

“The impact on the community game has been severe and, sadly, there will be insufficient time to complete competitions once full contact Community Rugby League returns. Our focus now is on supporting clubs with localised friendly fixtures in the Autumn.”

A return to full contact Rugby League would involve modifications, including the removal of scrums.

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Happy Father's day to all dads past, present and future. What memories do you have of Stanley Rangers Dad/Son/Daughter combinations ? At present we have:

Following Government advice published on Monday 1 June the following Rugby League activity is permitted: 

- Practising of individual skills and fitness activities. #SkillToPlay #FitToPlay

- Taking part in Rugby League activity with your family or people living in your household

- Skills and fitness activity in groups of no more than six:

Such group activity should comply with social distancing rules keeping two metres apart at all times.

Equipment including balls must be regularly sanitised.

Hand hygiene practices should be in place.The playing of any games, small sided or full, is not permitted.

Avoid meeting in groups of six in busy or overcrowded areas where it is not possible to maintain social distancing.

Rugby League coaches can lead small group activity for up to six people which includes the coach. 

- Coaches must follow the RF''s safeguarding policies at all times ensuring they remain in sight of another adult, risk assess the activities and gain consent of the parent/carer if the participant is under 18. Particular care should be taken when risk assessing activity for younger age - groups where compliance with social distancing rules may be more challenging.

- Listen to the views of children and young people about their activities.

- Coaches can organise a session that has more than one group of six involved in the session as long as the groups are kept separate, social distancing rules are observed (including how players enter and exit the facility), and rules regarding use of and sanitation of equipment are observed and strict hygiene measures are in place.

- If any individual is symptomatic, living in a household with possible COVID-19 infection or is vulnerable on health grounds the guidance is to stay at home.

The Rugby Football League, in partnership with the national social care charity, Community Integrated Care, and Leeds Rhinos Foundation have launched the #ActiveAtHome initiative, for everyone to keep active during this difficult time.

The #ActiveAtHome project is designed to help everyone keep active and improve their health and fitness in a safe environment during the current climate. The new initiative is inclusive to all so anyone can join in no matter what current level of fitness you may have.

The accessible #ActiveAtHome toolkit incorporates accessible mobility exercises, stretches and 15 individual exercises and activities demonstrated by Leeds Rhinos Foundation’s Health team that can be done in the safety of your home. The online resource includes a step-by-step user guide and a selection of videos to help those taking part.

Participants can adapt and create their own workout from the toolkit and each Monday there will be a weekly challenge or specific exercise to focus on with those taking part encouraged to share the work they are doing and provide feedback using #ActiveAtHome.

On the 21st April the RFL made the following decision about  Rugby League’s two weekend events, which have now both been postponed.

Super League’s Magic Weekend and the Championship’s Summer Bash have both been called off due to the Coronavirus pandemic. Magic Weekend was set to return to Newcastle on the weekend of May 23-24, however, the ongoing lockdown has forced Super League officials to trash plans. But there is a hope that the event can remain in some guise later in the year.The same applies for Summer Bash, which was scheduled to take place on the weekend of May 30-31 at Blackpool’s Bloomfield Road. The RFL hope the concept can be used once play resumes.

“It’s regrettable that Super League has had to make this decision – but in light of the current situation, it is sadly unavoidable,” said Super League chief executive Robert Elstone.

“Our fans will be disappointed because they were all looking forward to returning to Newcastle; however, Magic is still firmly in our plans for 2020, with St James’ Park, at a later date, one of the options being considered.”

An RFL statement read: “The concept of a round of fixtures being played at a single venue at some stage in 2020 – whether in the Betfred Championship and/or League 1, or the AB Sundecks 1895 Cup – remains one of the possibilities in the wide variety of options in the contingency planning being considered by the RFL and the clubs.”

Tickets already bought for Dacia Magic Weekend in Newcastle will be transferable to a later date at St James’ Park, or an alternative venue depending on when the season restarts.