Featherstone remove reserve team

Featherstone Rovers have disbanded their reserve team citing a lack of regular fixtures.

The move follows Sheffield scrapping their reserve side as well, after they were denied grade two status.

The club said in a statement: “Rovers were one of only nine sides that entered a team for 2016 but the lack of regular fixtures, with one Super league not wanting to play against Championship sides and two others moving their respective games against Rovers to August and September plus the withdrawal of Sheffield leaving three more blank dates, did nothing to help the continuity for the players and coaching staff who want to have regular football.

“In fact we have had requests from our players who wish to return to the community game in order to be able to play on a weekly basis.

“It is disappointing that, despite the best endeavours of the RFL, more clubs did not take up the opportunity to take part in this competition and the decision to withdraw has not been taken lightly.

“We will continue to monitor those players who have made up our Reserve squad and we would be keen to enter a team into the 2017 competition should there be sufficient numbers to allow a meaningful fixture list.”