FALMOUTH RFC head coach Graham Whitmore says it is good to have certainty after the Rugby Football Union announced the final league tables for the 2019/20 season.

With all rugby suspended on March 16 amid the coronavirus pandemic, the RFU announced the end to the season on March 20, before publishing the final tables on Friday.

The RFU revealed that it had used a best playing record formula to decide final positions, which is heavily based on a points-per-game method for matches played prior to the suspension.

The decision to use that method means that the Eagles, who were in a six-way fight to avoid relegation from Western Counties West, have avoided the drop down to Cornwall/Devon at the expense of Saltash and Cullompton.

“They had to do something that was going to be consistent across all leagues in the country and I’m sure that individual clubs will be either delighted on promotion or upset about relegations and such, but the important thing was we’ve got certainty now as to the situation,” Whitmore said.

“It was always going to be a very difficult situation to make those final placements but you’ve just got to get on now and look forward.”

Truro will add an extra local flavour to Western Counties West next season, joining Falmouth and Penryn in the division after being crowned champions of Cornwall/Devon.

But with St Austell claiming second spot and promotion to South West 1 West, coupled with Saltash’s relegation to Cornwall/Devon, it means the Eagles will have one less Cornish side to face next season.

Whitmore said: “Congratulations to St Austell and it also means that we have one less Cornish game to play alongside Saltash, and those two teams going out of the league means a little bit more travelling for us all and fewer local derbies, but it’s great that Truro are back in and well deserved to them as well.”

The confirmation of final placings means that most teams now know which division they will be competing in next season, but having no idea when the new season may begin will make it difficult to properly plan ahead.

Whitmore also feels that this uncertainty around when players can come back to train and socalise with their team-mates may have a negative effort both physically and mentally.

He said: “The socialisation aspect is such an important part of the game of rugby and I think mental wellbeing support of the players, as well as the physical conditioning, is going to be important over the next few months.”