THE French Rugby League Federation has back-tracked on its plans to start the next Super XIII season in December.

Following a meeting of clubs in April, it was announced that the new season would start on the weekend of December 5-6 in order to align the French calendar more towards Super League and because of this autumn’s World Cup in Australia, New Zealand and PNG.

The following season was then planned to start in March 2028 in full alignment with Super League.

However the decision was reversed at a second meeting called by clubs opposed to the change. The eleven club chairmen representing the Super XIII teams voted by six to five to stick to the traditional format.

It is now expected that the season will begin on the first weekend of October. The current season, which ends with the Championship final next Saturday (June 6) at Stade Jean Bouin in Paris, began on September 27.

It was argued that during the hot summer months, with temperatures sometimes rising to 40 degrees, it would be difficult to keep the pitch in condition, not to mention the effect on players.

The clubs opposed to the plan also suggested that it would be hard to enlist the volunteers that clubs depend on, as well as attracting spectators, because they would be taking their annual holidays.