The Bendigo Fighting Miners are back on track to start their 2020 season.
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Earlier in the week Rugby Victoria announced August 1 as the official start date for senior competitions.
The Miners - who compete in the Premiership Reserves - will contend with teams from across the state in a 10-round season.
Ryan Spedding, one of the club's senior leadership players, said now that a date had been set the team was able to get down to business in the lead up for their first match.
"Now that a start date has been set and we will be allowed to return to full-contact training in the coming weeks we can now focus on the season ahead," Spedding said.
The proposed 10-round season is smaller than usual, which itself presents both opportunities and challenges for the Miners.
"With the shorter season it puts a lot more pressure on us to perform at our best from the get go and we can't afford to drop too many games," Spedding said.
"There won't be as many opportunities to make up for lost games later in the season."
Miners head coach Steve Dockrey said despite a date being given, anything could happen between now and August.
"We have been given the date but the latest increase in COVID-19 cases could knock the competition for six," Dockrey said.
However, the team is now working towards the August 1 date.
"I'm sure we will have a very competitive side when it gets off the ground," he said.
"The goal is to now keep training sessions interesting for the boys and to keep them together."
Rugby is a full-contact sport, a challenge for the Miners has been remaining engaged at training sessions which have been non-contact and primarily fitness-based.
Spedding said he had used the break to work on his ball-kicking skills in addition to fitness.
There is also one missing piece for the Miners before they start the season, they are on the lookout to recruit a few more players.
"We're hoping to take advantage as most football leagues around the area have been cancelled so we are looking to recruit some players to play rugby with us," he said.
"We're lacking a couple of bigger guys in the forward which would then fill out our team perfectly."
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