BUSINESS AS USUAL
RFL insist it’s not game over... yet
RUGBY LEAGUE matches will go ahead unless the Government changes its guidance – or the sport begins to have reported cases of coronavirus at clubs.
The was the stance outlined by the Rugby Football League to clubs yesterday.
While other sports have suspended their operations until early next month, Super League and the Challenge Cup went ahead last night and is scheduled to again tomorrow.
Today’s Catalans versus Leeds Super League game was postponed when the Rhinos refused to travel after a member of their squad self-isolated.
But it remains the only rugby league fixture called off to date.
The RFL said: “We note the unilateral decision by the Premier League and EFL to suspend football fixtures, returning on 4th April (subject to medical advice and conditions at the time) due to a number of confirmed positive cases that have been confirmed in football clubs.
“We understand that following confirmed cases and in line with the current advice from the Government’s Chief Medical Officer and Chief Scientific Adviser this requires those people in close contact with confirmed cases to self-isolate.
“Inevitably this includes other players and coaching staff therefore making the continuation of fixtures challenging.
“As you know, we have been in continual dialogue with DCMS (the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport) on this matter, including again this morning, and on the basis of there being no confirmed cases reported to us by our clubs, fixtures remain in place for the coming weekend.
“At all times the RFL has followed and is following the Government’s guidance as requested.
“We will of course monitor the position carefully for any changes and communicate in due course should any update be required.” Catalans’ home game with Leeds was set to be played behind closed doors due to the French Government’s banning of public gatherings of more than 1,000 people.
But the Rhinos made the decision not to travel when one of their squad members showed symptoms of the virus.
The unnamed player trained with the first team on Monday before feeling ill and being sent home with antibiotics the next day.
Leeds director of rugby Kevin Sinfield said: “We’re disappointed to be in a position whereby we have had to make this decision.
“But the health and wellbeing of everyone is our paramount concern particularly with us having to fly to fulfil the fixture.
“We were travelling on a scheduled flight to Barcelona and with one of our players selfisolating, we felt it was the responsible thing to do both for our players and staff and members of the public who we would share the flight with.
“If the game had been in the UK we would have played and followed UK guidelines and advice.”
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