Roughriders’ first pre-season game rescheduled

The Saskatchewan Roughriders — and their fans — will have to wait a little longer for the CFL team’s first game of 2022.

According to the schedule on the league’s website, Saskatchewan’s first pre-season game against the visiting Winnipeg Blue Bombers has been rescheduled from next Monday to May 31 at 6:30 p.m.

The game was moved because of the CFL players’ strike, which ended Wednesday night after the league and the CFL Players’ Association reached a deal on a new collective bargaining agreement.

The Roughriders now will have a quick turnaround between their exhibition games. Saskatchewan’s second pre-season contest is still slated for June 3 in Vancouver against the B.C. Lions.

Instead of having 10 days off between pre-season games, the Roughriders now will have two days off. That could mean a change of plans for the coaching staff as it tries to set its roster.

Ummm #Riders preseason games the 31st and June 3rd? 2 days off in between? I imagine it’ll be two split squads with Fajardo playing the first game. https://t.co/YbCOvYPJS6

— Jamie Nye (@jamienye) May 19, 2022

On the other hand, the Roughriders will have more training-camp workouts without games; the other teams are to play pre-season contests on May 27 and May 28.

Winnipeg also has a compressed schedule between its pre-season games. The Bombers are to open their exhibition slate May 27 against the visiting Edmonton Elks.

Once the new CBA is ratified, the Roughriders will start training camp Thursday in Saskatoon with a walkthrough at 6:30 p.m. Training camp was to start Sunday, but was put on hold when the players went on strike.