March 9 is marked on the calendar of rugby league clubs as they await the next announcement by IMG.
The Rugby League’s new strategic partner is to reveal its grading criteria for the clubs, pointing the way forward.
Ticking relevant boxes has been tackled by a vast majority of clubs since IMG first revealed that grading was going to be introduced.
Significantly, Whitehaven’s director of rugby Gary Charlton suggested that his club have about 60 per cent of the boxes covered.
Forming a women’s team is a part of the requirements and Whitehaven have recently announced moves to bring that to fruition.
A couple of months ago, Workington Town formed their ladies team, which has been training with coach Jon Roper since then.
Barrow already have a successful Ladies team, and a flourishing youth system in the Furness area, which is an area where both Town and Whitehaven have been lacking.
It is understood that IMG want to phase out promotion and relegation, to and from the Super League and replace it with the grading system.
The grading will be judged by a range of on and off field criteria and Grade A will be guaranteed a place at the top table alongside the best B-ranked clubs.
IMG have promised the criteria used will be “objective, easily measurable, reliable, transparent and valid.”
Clubs have been waiting for any scrap of information and have now been told that details will be put to them at a Special General Meeting on March 9.
After six weeks of consultation sessions another SGM will be held on April 19 and a vote taken.
