24/04/2025
*CUP DATES*
As most clubs and teams are aware, BARLA faced a struggle at the start of the much smaller playing window to find any space to play the National Youth Cups in 2025. It took a lot of negotiation between BARLA, the RFL, and the respective League Organisations to try and find a resolution which wouldn't impact on Leagues and their operations.
In the end, all agreed on the dates that were set despite the tight schedule and these were published on social media as well as on every application form that was sent out. We even went as far as to ask clubs not to enter if they couldn't fulfil the dates given regardless of the stage they reached.
The Leagues made it clear that fixtures would not be changed and moved about either because of the smaller timescale to fit all League and Cup fixtures into in 2025 because of the mandated off-season brought in.
As we approach the Quarter Finals in all the Youth Cups, we are now getting clubs coming to us asking for games to be postponed because of "Tours booked a year ago", "Magic Weekend", "Its bank holiday", etc., so it would appear that all the date information was ignored or taken that Leagues would just back down.
There is only ONE way a game can be re-scheduled:
a) Teams involved get full approval from their League(s) to postpone their regular fixtures based on any re-schedule dates proposed. This approval is sent onto BARLA also.
b) BOTH teams MUST agree to a re-schedule date which cannot then be changed.
c) If agreement cannot be reached, then concession by the team unable to play must, unfortunately, be agreed.
BARLA, The Leagues, and the RFL are working with the tools given under the restrictions and regulations they are under. Clubs and teams who don't listen/read the information and advice given and then plea to us just causes more headaches at an already difficult juncture in the competition and League programmes.
