WITH every day that passes it looks more and more likely that Saint Stanislaus' College will have the opportunity to enjoy a full round of ISA rugby union in 2020.
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The heads of sport from all member colleges recently came together to discuss their planned draw for a term three competition, and after the latest round of COVID-19 restrictions easing the Bathurst school plan to start small training sessions from this Tuesday.
It's welcome news in particular for the school's year 12 students who faced the prospect of missing out on their last season of rugby.
At this stage, assuming the coronavirus trend does not worsen heading into the new school term, the ISA rugby union season will feature a full round of seven matches.
Stannies head of sport David Burke said it's a positive step for the school and the wider ISA community.
"We're looking to get back in small groups, broken up in groups of nine or 10 including a coach, to get some fitness work done to try a reboot a pre-season," he said.
"There's not footballs involved. It's just about getting the social interaction happening and giving them a bit of hope that everything is moving forward."
The school is basing their training decisions off the Australian Institute of Sport's model, which lays down guidelines based off last week's eased restrictions.
A lot still needs to happen on a logistical level for a functioning season to go ahead.
It's just about getting the social interaction happening.
- David Burke
"Regional travel has been relaxed for recreational purposes but we don't fall into that so there's a bit that needs to happen before sport gets up and running. It's a step in the right direction in terms of being able to move to play," Burke said.
"There's issues with things like how many people can travel on buses. We've written letters to parents saying what we'd like to get up and running, and how we'll achieve that, but there's a lot still up in the air."
The recent ISA meeting not only outlined an ideal draw for the competition but also the schools' potential return to training.
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Burke said at the moment everything has managed to follow the script perfectly.
"We had a meeting two weeks ago and it was the same response from everybody, that we would look at getting up and running in week five or six. That's where we're at now, in week five, and all schools seem to be in a similar situation," he said.
"It's looking like a seven week season. They would keep rounds four through seven as they were, because venues are booked, then rounds one, two and three would be tacked on to the back of that."
The draw change also gives Stannies a start on their No 1 Oval.
"We were going to start with St Pat's away but we'll now start with St. Augustine's at home," Burke said.