BY JOHN DAVIDSON
Breaking: Ottawa Aces have decided to defer from competition for a season and will not play their debut campaign in 2021.
New Canadian club Ottawa, set up by former Toronto Wolfpack founder Eric Perez, were expected to join League 1 next year.
But the Aces have deferred from entering the third tier in 2021 and will instead are now to begin in 2022. It is understand the club’s backers, who have yet to be revealed publicly, have not pulled out.
What impact the deferral will have on Ottawa’s players and coaching staff is unclear at this stage.
The Canadian side was expected to start pre-season training in the UK on December 1 and has already signed a head coach in Laurent Frayssinous, support staff and 17 players.
Rugbyleaguehub.com Long Reads understand a few of the Aces players have already approached other clubs about signing with them for next season.
Doubts over Ottawa’s future have grown since the decision to block Toronto from re-entering Super League was made on Monday.
Pundit Brian Carney told Sky: on “It certainly muddies the waters when we know we have Ottawa coming in and we believe we have a submission from New York and yet we are expelling Toronto.
“In my eyes this puts doubts over Ottawa. If Ottawa get promoted up to Super League will they be accepted in? It is a very confusing situation at the moment.”
The impact of Covid-19 and travel restrictions is another major hurdle the Aces were set to face.
Super League revealed major doubts about the future of Canadian expansion in its report into the North American market and the Wolfpack at the start of this week.
Rugbyleaguehub.com Long Reads contacted Perez on Tuesday, but he declined to comment.
RFL PRESS RELEASE
Ottawa Aces have tonight announced a deferral of their entry to Betfred League 1 until the 2022 season, as agreed between the RFL and the Club, and in consideration of the best long-term interests of the Club, the competition, and the sport.
For their full statement, see below.
The RFL looks forward to maintaining a positive relationship with the Aces in their ongoing preparations.
The RFL will now consider the implications of the deferral on the competition structure for 2021 and will work with the Aces towards entry to League 1 in 2022.
Ottawa Aces statement:
The Ottawa Aces announce that after much consultation, and deliberation, it was decided that in consideration of the best long-term interests of the Club, the competition, and the sport, and as agreed between the RFL and the Club to defer the Aces entry into the RFL league structure to the 2022 season.
This decision was not taken lightly and is due to the ongoing proliferation of COVID-19 cases across the UK, and increasing numbers across Ontario, that cast doubt on the ability to travel freely between Canada and the UK in 2021.
The Aces organization will focus on making sure all players and staff are given the support they need during this difficult time. All current season ticket deposits will be honoured for the 2022 season.
The Aces would like to thank the RFL, OSEG, our corporate partners, and fans for their ongoing support. The Aces remains a proud member of the RFL and will now concentrate efforts on the future, and focus on bringing professional Rugby League to TD Place Stadium in 2022.
