With the latest release from the NCA regarding a return to play for National League Clubs, Henley RFC have committed to being part of a new NCA Cup which will take place in the New Year as a replacement to the 2020/21 league season. The new cup competition will include both National One and National Two clubs and it will be in two phases.

Phase 1: This will consist of regional based leagues of around six clubs who will play home and away.
The groupings and fixtures will be announced once we know which clubs will be taking part with the main objective to minimise travelling.

The competition start date will also be determined when we are given the go ahead by government to restart competitive rugby.

Phase 2: Based on the positions in the regional leagues, clubs will be split into cup, plate and bowl and those matches will be played on a knockout basis to determine the three winners. The hope is that there will be a finals day at Twickenham.

If the restart is conditional on there being modifications to the laws of the game, the competition will be played under these modifications. If these are relaxed once the competition starts, we will play under the relaxed conditions. It will be necessary to make some changes to the game regulations and these will be announced later.

NCA Chairman John Inverdale commented: “We’ve been talking about this for a long time.  I’m delighted we’re now able to blow the whistle and I hope as many clubs will enter as possible.”