Super League have announced some regulatory clarifications or the 2021 season which have already sets hares running in relation to potential relegation and the potential to advantageously postpone fixtures towards the end of the season.

Placings in the league table will once again be determined by a win points average, to allow for the possibility that some games may need to be cancelled due to coronavirus, however all clubs will need to play a minimum of 70% of their fixtures (18 out of the scheduled 25 games).

With a packed fixture calendar, and a scheduled World Cup standing in the way of any over-runs, it looks like a sensible proposal.

Clubs will be allowed to postpone their fixtures should they have seven or more of their top twenty-five players unavailable either due to a positive coronavirus test or restrictions placed on players due to track and trace. Games will only be re-arranged if both teams have the same available match slot.

The points percentage will be calculated by dividing the number of league points by the number of games played and multiplying by 50. If four or more clubs fail to meet the 70% requirement then the RFL board will be able to determine a new minimum requirement figure.

Dual registration will not be permitted in 2021 but a loan period for a minimum of two weeks will be allowed with strict testing protocols.

All of the new rules seem founded in common sense, but there is already some speculation about a whether a club just above the relegation spot could cancel a fixture to maintain their points percentage once they have reached their 70% requirement.