‘It’s been a positive eight months or so’ – Portsmouth RFC head coach Gareth Richards on a ‘strange’ start to his new role at Rugby Camp

But he is still taking plenty of positives from what has been a strange tenure so far following the coronavirus outbreak.

Richards took up the role just as rugby, along with all other sport, was placed under a blanket ban as the country went into a nationwide lockdown in March.

Take things forward eight months and the RFU have still not been able to safely reintroduce competition action.

It's been such a big issue that the governing body recently announced all amateur leagues would not take place this season.

Despite not being able to play, Richards has managed to get to work on the training field at Rugby Camp with his squad.

Yet, just as things were beginning to take shape and there was hope of a December return, a second lockdown came into force last Thursday.

But Richards is just hoping Portsmouth's training block, while restrictions were eased, does not go to waste.

‘It’s been really strange (since becoming head coach),' he explained.

'Trying to manage things, you feel in a constant start of waiting, as we try to find out what’s going to be happening.

‘I think in some respects it’s actually been quite a positive eight months or so.

‘I said to the players last week, when we said about having to cancel training from now on, that there are some real positives that can be taken from the past eight months.‘

It’s not all doom and gloom.

‘We’re naturally disappointed that we’re not going to get to play any league rugby this year.

‘But, under the current circumstances, it’s totally expected.

'I don’t think it would be right to be playing a face-to-face contact game in light of everything that’s going on in the country.

‘We were able to get some progression in across those eight months, but not as much as we liked.'

Portsmouth are now set for an enforced month-long break from training during lockdown.

The club opted against staging a final session last Tuesday with safety in mind two days before restrictions were tightened.

‘We’ve put a complete standstill on training,' added Richards.

‘We actually took the decision not to train on Tuesday in light of the lockdown.

‘We just didn’t think, although the announcement was Thursday, we didn’t think it would ethically be right to train.

There are ongoing discussions about trying to get some form of rugby played, whether that be an adapted version of the game.

‘I know the Women’s Premier League have been trialling some law adaptations at the moment and whether that will be filtered down to grassroots rugby so we can get some games played.

'I know Hampshire are exploring the opportunity of playing a Hampshire-based league or knockout competition if given the green light to be able to do so.

‘We remain hopeful (of rugby this season).

‘We’ve got plans in place to be able to restart in December to build towards something maybe happening in the new year.

'We’re just waiting to hear really.'