ILKLEY head of rugby Rhys Morgan is of the opinion that late November is the most realistic date for the community game to get going again.

Last month, the RFU issued a fixture list that included three potential start dates for their 2020/21 season.

If the Dalesmen kick off their North One East campaign by October 10 (window one), they will play teams home and away, in a localised group, before playing those further afield in their division, in the other group, home and away.

If everything goes ahead by November 28 (window two), the first part remains the same, but they would only play those more distant sides once.

If the season gets underway after that (window three), they would only play local home and away teams in their league.

All three systems would provide a league winner (the first two via best overall record and the latter through a play-off between the winners of the two groups).

Morgan is in the dark like everybody else when it com es to predicting a return, however he is determined to keep his glass half full and will react accordingly to whichever date is finally selected.

He said: "Everyday it is different. You have just got to prepare for it happening, then be flexible if it changes.

"We are still at Stage B (of the return to ruby roadmap). I would’ve hoped that we were going up the chart at this time but we don’t seem to be moving.

"You get so many different opinions. Some people, slightly higher than us, say we will definitely be kicking off in October.

"Other people then say after Christmas. We just have to hope that we do get going eventually. November 28 is the more realistic date.

"It is going to be such a strange season. If you don’t start until Christmas and only play 50% of teams in your league, promotion and relegation would be my biggest worry."

Ilkley have been training since July 7 in four social bubbled groups of six to keep their players fitness and skill levels high.

Morgan's men found it more difficult than ever before last term, suffering relegation from the North Premier by a landslide in the end.

Although, the boss knows it will be tough again this year, he reckons his squad are more than capable to regain their place in the higher division.

Morgan added: "We never start a season where we don’t want to get promotion.

"I just say the same that we want to win every Saturday, if that means by the end of the year we get promoted that’s great.

"You want to be going back up, but there is another 13 teams who want that as well.

"There are some very good teams in that league (North One East). Cleckheaton, Bees (Bradford & Bingley), Scarborough and Morley to name a few.

"We are not naive to believe that we have got a right to be promoted. We are going to give it our best shot.

"We have had a shocking last year with injuries, so let's hope we have a bit of luck this time."