LAST week saw the amateur teams in Challenge Cup action, this week Saints play their only friendly.

Some will moan about the season starting too early, others cannot wait to get their rugby league fix.

It has changed since that first Super League season that kicked off in March and ended on August Bank Holiday weekend.

At top level it is easy to say that the switch to summer rugby has been largely welcomed.

As much as we can get nostalgic at times, particularly around Boxing Day, the fans largely get a better experience in the summer.

The only bugbear there is the retreat from the traditional Sunday games.

But away from the top flight, does summer rugby fit all?

Now this is difficult because we try to get the whole game- top to bottom - as 'one league'.

But there is a case of one season not fitting all - and by that I reckon the amateur game was better served by a September to May season.

Its is fantastic to see the expansion of the game in other areas not just in geographical terms. The growth of the women's game, masters, juniors and cubs and those players with physical and learning disabilities is to be welcomed.

However, the decrease in the number of open age players and clubs in the traditional heartlands worries me.

Let's not forget last year we had semi-professional teams unable to find 17 players - unheard of in the 70s, even if Geoff Fletcher had to do a bit of press-ganging to get his Huyton team filled on occasion.

The world has changed, we know that, and rugby league is not the only amateur sport where the numbers of men in their 20s and 30s are dropping off.

There are reasons why players drop out after long junior stints - and some of those we can do little about.

In terms of amateur rugby league, and maybe a level or two above, do we need to ask why that sport was traditionally a winter game to understand drop offs.

One of those could be physical.

Do the really big fellas, who just want to train a night a week and play for pleasure on a Saturday - want to throw their bodies about on rock hard pitches in the heat of summer?

And then let's have a look at the alternative distractions in summer. That’s holidays, weekend breaks, weddings, stag dos and music festivals.

There can't be many clubs that don't suffer cry offs for the above reasons.

And I suppose if some can't commit totally - every week - they just drift off altogether.

Another big one is work.

Given plenty of players are in the building trade, making hay while the sun shines means that Saturdays in summer are working days.

Personally, I would like to see amateur clubs vote on whether they want to start a winter league.

It won't be for everyone, there is some really good football played on the firm summer pitches, week to week, by the leading community clubs.

And there will be hundreds of players who would not want to go back to days of ankle deep mud and doubts over games caused by frost.

But winter should be an option.

And if a significant number choose to do that, they should get the same backing as their summer counterparts.

The whole game needs to be inclusive, not rigid, and there's no reason why we can't play all year round....like the professionals!