Langholm locked on to start date for new season

However, as yet, no date for the resumption of rugby has been confirmed, with October 31 likely to be the earliest when senior rugby could start, as advised by the SRU.

Training sessions for the 1st XV squad at Milntown nevertheless resumed in August, with social distancing and strict hygiene measures in place.

Touch rugby can now be played in line with SRU guidelines, while training for the youth section will start as soon as possible. However, the club has been advised the 3G pitch will not be available for youth or senior rugby training for the foreseeable future .

The lack of matches in September and October is a concern for coach Craig Hislop and the players.

However, activities have been planned to keep the squad together as much as possible, including golf, bowling and other competitions.

There are good numbers at the twice-weekly training sessions and it’s hoped a further relaxation of current restrictions may allow some contact rugby training to be introduced as soon as it is safe to do so .

From a playing point, if an end of October start date can be achieved, it’s hoped as many matches, both home and away, can be played during the winter months.

This may be in the form of a one-off East league competion and/or local friendlies, based on the start date issued by the SRU.

Nevertheless, preparations for the new rugby season are already well under way.

Maintenance of the pitches has been ongoing over the summer, and repairs to the bridge and improvements to the club facilities are being carried out.

The upgrade of facilities – which started in 2016 with the refurbishment of the grandstand and includes new lights on training pitch, new roofs on the bar, toilets and kitchen, and installation of a gym and weight training room – will be finished off with new doors and windows for the grandstand and a medical room being installed.

Chairman Kenneth Pool said: “Everything that can be done to get ready for the resumption of rugby is being done across the club.

“We hope to hear more about a start date for rugby as soon as possible. We just have to be patient .

“Despite no rugby being played since February, the club is in good heart and raring to go. We have a number of excellent sponsorship deals being agreed, while we want to get as much done on and off the field this season as we can.

“Next year is the 150th anniversary of the club’s formation, so we hope everything will be back to as near normality as it can be for the start of the 2021-22 season.”