The RFL has announced that the Betfred Championship, featuring Roughyeds, and League One seasons will not be resuming in 2020.

The news came after rugby league was rocked by the withdrawal of Toronto Wolfpack from all remaining Super League and Coral Challenge Cup competition this year.

At Monday’s RFL board meeting it was decided there will be no relegation this year from what is now an 11-team Super League without the Canadian outfit.

The call to end the second and third tier seasons came following a Government announcement that it will be October at the earliest before crowds can return.

Also, most clubs in each competition had made it clear in a survey that they didn't favour playing behind closed doors.

Clubs in Championship and League One will however be invited to play in an autumn competition with a prize pot of £250,000.

Participation will be voluntary and there will be a detailed application process in which clubs will be required to prove their ability to meet necessary protocols and medical standards.

Toronto, meanwhile, said in a statement that they will be standing down from remaining competition in Super League and the Coral Challenge Cup this year due to "a range of factors specific to the club as the only transatlantic team in the league”.

Super League will resume behind closed doors on August 2 and Wolfpack were also scheduled to play Newcastle Thunder at Newcastle in the sixth round of the Challenge Cup on the weekend of September 22 and 23.

Elsewhere, such has been the interest in Oldham Rugby League Club's 'rainbow' T-shirts, specially designed to support the NHS, that the club has extended its online sales pitch for several more days.

Half the profits will go to local NHS charities as the club's way of paying tribute to the health service for its work and selfless dedication during the Covid-19 pandemic.

Staff at Pinderfields Hospital in Wakefield saved the life of Oldham's assistant coach Brendan Sheridan, a 41-year-old father of three, who was in a coma and on a ventilator in April.

The club stopped taking orders, from all over the country, more than a fortnight ago but it has received so many inquiries since that online ordering is open again until 5pm on Saturday.

"We've had lots more inquiries from far and wide," said club chairman Chris Hamilton.

"People like the shirt, but they also like what we are doing in supporting the NHS."