Portsmouth RFC keen to be ‘morally responsible’ as they plan return to training and playing after year-long absence

Clubs across the country are now counting down the days until they are permitted to resume sessions with the Government's first stage of easing lockdown restrictions from March 29.

It represents the first time players operating below Championship level will be able to train this year with the grassroots game shut down since December.

Portsmouth are among thousands of clubs nationwide who have now gone without any competitive action for more than a year since the first lockdown last March.

Now, as teams at all levels prepare for a training return later this month and potential playing comeback from April 26, Richards says careful planning needs to be put into place.

He fears amateur players could pick up injuries if they rush back, but is also aware of finding a balancing act with grassroots clubs going so long without competitive action.

Richards said: ‘That plays into the thinking behind the way that we’ll return to it (so long without competitive rugby).

‘To go 15 months without competitive rugby is a long time and what you don’t want to do with amateur players - where there’s a huge range of ability, fitness level and age - is to throw them into a competitive environment too quickly.

‘You don't want to risk peoples’ safety so that was another element for us.

‘As we’re only looking at coming back for six to seven weeks at the end of what is this season, we didn’t feel there was any value in moving towards a full contact version of the game above what we’ll offer with a 10-a-side tournament.

‘It gives them a little bit of moving back to what normal rugby would be like and sets us up nicely for a six or seven-week break before we go into pre-season.'

Initially, Portsmouth are planning to return to training later this month, holding sessions twice a week with some inter-club tournaments, before stopping for a brief summer break in May.

The club have not arranged to play any friendlies at present and are only looking to do so after they return for pre-season in July.

Portsmouth will have gone the best part of 18 months between playing their last competitive on March 7 last year and any friendly action this summer.

For Richards - appointed club head coach before the first lockdown - it's been an agonising wait to take charge of his first fixture.

But he now believes the wait may not be too much longer before he can get the chance to implement his style on the field.

He added: ‘We just wanted to keep it within the club for now and try to support the club as best we can in-house while minimising any risk with regards to the transmission of Covid in the local area.

‘We felt that was probably more morally responsible than trying to source fixtures here, there and everywhere with over clubs.

‘Personally, and for the other coaches as we’re a new coaching group together, it’s been frustrating not being able to get to work.

‘It would be nice to see, especially when I’ve got a clear idea about how I want the team to play and what our style of rugby is going to be, and seeing that actually take some shape and form on a pitch in a competitive match would be really rewarding.

‘We’ll get our chance with some pre-season friendlies in August and hopefully the resumption of the league programme in September.'