THE return of rugby union advanced this week with confirmation training would start next month.

The Welsh Government has slowly eased restrictions regarding sport with football and rugby the last major sports to get the green light for a return.

However rugby clubs will have to remain patient for several more weeks.

Non contact training will now resume from August 1 with a phased return to normality before the start of the new season the Welsh Rugby Union (WRU) has confirmed.

Newtown Rugby Club spokesman Darren Bloor said: “We are currently digesting the information contained in the announcement from the WRU and are meeting to ensure that all procedures are put in place to make our coaches and players as safe as possible.

“We are looking forward to returning to the field and to some sort of rugby normality”

Meanwhile Adam Gaca warned it would be some time before normal service was resumed.

However the Llanidloes coach welcomed the first steps.

He said: “We were on the call with the WRU on Monday and support their phased approach to getting us back onto the pitch playing rugby again.

“It might be a while before we are back to something near normal but the boys are really looking forward to seeing their mates and getting a rugby ball in their hands again after so long away.

“We’ll continue our planning and preparation and will be training again after August 1st following the guidelines the WRU put in place.

“Hopefully we’ll get some games in the not too distant future which will be good for the club and the community.”

Updated guidelines will be published in coming weeks.