Women's National League set for August start

The Women’s National League (WNL) 2020 campaign is set to begin on the second weekend in August.

The WNL was initially set for a March re-start, and it will now begin in mid-August.

The WNL have also confirmed that, ‘affiliation fees have been waived to help clubs’, prize money will be spread out equally, and there will be funds available to ensure all clubs can upgrade their grounds to follow safety protocols.

There has also been a change in structure announced to the tenth version of the WNL – with two phases planned, one and two.

Phase One will commence on the opening weekend of action where every team will play each other. Phase Two will see a split in the league where clubs will be separated into two sections playing each other again.

Women’s National League Committee Chairperson Myles Kelly said: “The Women’s National League Committee held a meeting with the senior clubs in the Women’s National League on July 2nd, 2020.

“The meeting outlined a significant financial package to aid the clubs for a new start date in early August for the 2020 Women’s National League.

“The Women’s National League Committee would like to thank the clubs for their forbearance through this difficult time and also the FAI for the financial package which allows the League to be completed in 2020.”

A fixture list and confirmation of a start date for the under-17 League will follow in due course.