The NSW Rugby League plans to resume its grassroots competition seasons in July, but the NRL’s reserve grade competition will remain cancelled due to the coronavirus.

NSWRL boss Dave Trodden confirmed on Wednesday it was working towards resuming the Ron Massey Cup, Sydney Shield and women’s premiership on July 18.

Players will be able to return to training from the start of July, with the comeback to be rubber stamped on June 1, depending on state government approval.

The development will also include all park football, ranging from under-6s to open age with 100,000 participants involved.

But the top-tier competitions, including NSW Cup, Jersey Flegg, Harold Matthews, SG Ball and Tarsha Gale Cup will not come back.

It’s thought the cost of running what effectively would have been a 10-week season was far too great.

The decision will also take a strain off NRL clubs, who had already accounted for the reserve grade competitions not returning in 2020.

“Most winter sports favour working towards a return date of 18 July 2020, at the end of the next school holiday period,” Trodden said.

“The Board and Management of NSWRL have been continuing to closely monitor developments with regards to the COVID-19 pandemic.

“(We) will continue to strictly follow the government advice so that we will only return to playing footy when it is deemed safe to do so.”

The news means it is possible that reserve grade players could drop down to affiliate Ron Massey Cup teams to have games this season.

However it is highly unlikely any fringe NRL players would feature, given their contractual status and the risk of injury in the third-tier competition.

The Queensland Cup was also cancelled by the QRL last month.