KEIGHLEY Albion are providing the opportunity for summer rugby by entering an open-age team in the Yorkshire Men's League.

Albion relaunched their adult side last year in the winter-based Pennine League but they have endured a stop-start campaign since rejoining in Division Five, suffering numerous postponements due to opponents not being able to raise teams or games falling victim to bad weather.

Now Albion, who have more than ten junior teams ready to start playing summer rugby, are set to run a competitive side at senior level all year round.

Secretary John Normington said: "We're entering the Yorkshire Men's League for the first time. It will be an opportunity for some of our under-17s to step up and also will be a chance for any lads in the Keighley area who want to play during the summer, including those who play rugby union.

"Through our junior teams playing in the summer we have seen that there is less unpredictability around fixtures as we are not having to contend with the weather."

Normington added: "There is still a demand at amateur level at the minute for winter rugby. But all our youngsters are playing summer rugby now and it maybe over the next few years that winter rugby will scale down with the amateur game following the professional ranks and becoming a mainly summer sport.

"We are therefore looking to keep our options open and be prepared for catering for our players who want to play in the winter, summer or both."

The structure for the summer-based competition is still being finalised, with teams due to start league fixtures in March or April.

If an overlap exists with Albion's Pennine League schedule, Normington said there would be flexibility to rearrange their early games in the Yorkshire League so they wouldn’t clash with their remaining winter fixtures in the Pennine League.

Airedale Cougars – a team set up by Keighley Cougars to provide their youngsters with amateur game-time – played in the Yorkshire League last season but will not be entering the competition this year.