Forty20 managing editor Phil Caplan tries to keep track of the coronavirus epidemic and how, despite it being a glorious irrelevance in these unprecedented times, sport – and in particular rugby league – was affected by the growing global pandemic.
FRIDAY 13/3
The text comes in at 6.30am. It reads, ‘Unpack your case, the Rhinos are NOT now going.’ Timely, as leaving for the train to Manchester airport is under 45 minutes away.
The night before has been a difficult one in deciding what to take on the trip to Perpignan via Carcassonne and home through Barcelona with only hand luggage, as word begins to spread about isolation and lockdown in Europe, the growing epicentre of the disease.
Do you plan for the duration or an unintended extended period? Concern is matched with a frisson of excitement, the naturally rebellious rugby league inclination to do something when others say you can’t and the potential of being part of history, charting the surreal conditions of a match being played behind closed doors for competition points; even if Sky has arranged for live-streaming.
There is the relief too that the risk, if not the cost, of the trip has been mitigated and initial thoughts over what will the financial implications be for the sport, and should the round be allowed to continue in the wake of rugby league being one of the last few planning to continue this weekend.
Suddenly, the implications of the virus has become real, more quantifiable, less just a news story; it is affecting that which is our identity and cathartic release – now, unlike sport, it is genuinely a matter of life and potential death.
At 8am, Leeds issue a statement saying they have decided not to travel to Spain this morning on medical grounds.
A member of their squad has self-isolated – later identified as new loanee and yet to debut Joe Greenwood – after showing symptoms of possible coronavirus.
The release continues, ‘The player is being managed in line with the current Department of Health guidance and subsequent steps for the rest of the squad, if necessary, will be advised by the Rhinos medical team in conjunction with the NHS.
It was decided by the RFL Board on Tuesday that the game should go ahead behind closed doors after the French authorities banned gatherings of over 1,000 spectators. However, both clubs have remained in regular dialogue since then and, following the latest development, it was decided that the team should not travel to Spain and France this weekend.
The team were due to fly to Barcelona on Friday morning before travelling north to Perpignan ahead of Saturday’s game and then returning to UK via Barcelona on Sunday afternoon.’
Leeds Rhinos Director of Rugby Kevin Sinfield goes on to comment: “We are disappointed to be in a position whereby we have had to make this decision but the health and well being 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 self-isolating, 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. I would like to thank Catalans Dragons for their understanding.”
The announcement is a blow for the hosts but, perhaps, not as much as the e300,000 they were set to lose if the fixture went ahead without fans and sponsors and it can be rescheduled.
There is also the dawning realisation that, with now three postponed games to fit in and a likely travel ban restricting movement – and the same possibly applying to Toronto – the competition as much as the Dragons is in limbo.
The RFL responds with a terse two line statement –
‘We have been advised by Leeds Rhinos that they will not be travelling to France to fulfil their scheduled fixture against Catalans Dragons.
The consequences of this decision on the match, and any sanction, will be determined by the RFL Board.’
Leeds have made a unilateral decision based on the most understandable of reasons and, as seen with Wigan rescheduling a match with Widnes at their whim in 2017, the clubs cannot be given licence to call off games without due process.
However, the response in this instance seems callous and unnecessary with so many wider implications at stake.
And it is just the start of an unfolding doomsday scenario.
The sporting picture is escalating with the announcement the day before that Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta has tested positive for Covid-19, on the back of Olympiacos owner Evangelos Marinakis doing likewise having watched his team play at the Emirates Stadium. He also owns Nottingham Forest, whose players test negative.
As noted sports correspondent David Conn writes on social media: ‘In an hour on Thursday night, English football went from saying all matches were on (on govt advice), to postponing for 3 weeks. Most realise they won’t be playing again then; sport like society is reeling, and just starting to consider the implications.’
‘Nonetheless, the realisation has dawned on many senior football people that matches are very unlikely to resume on the provisional dates pencilled in, Friday 3 April for the Football League, the following day for the Premier League.
‘The leagues’, the FA’s and Uefa’s official positions are to hope their competitions can be completed, but the course of the virus is not expected even to peak until May or June, so playing at the start of April looks impossible.’
For lesser rugby league it is already looking ominous as the stakes raise.
The Olympic torch relay in Greece is cancelled – only the third time that a relay to Athens for the summer Games has not been completed – just a day after the flame was lit in Olympia by Hollywood actor Gerard Butler, who is mobbed by large crowds, despite repeated warnings for spectators not to attend.
What is becoming the disease with no boundaries is affecting the biggest global gathering of sport due to be held in Tokyo on 24 July, although the IOC will not call for cancellation at this stage with athletes told to carry on preparing, but training for around 80,000 volunteers has been delayed for at least two months.
It is just over three months since the first cases were reported in China, Iran and Italy are rapidly becoming the centres of highest incidence, Denmark has closed its borders, cruise ships are quarantined, awareness is rising through the growing diminishing of sport.
Rugby league is preparing to carry on, with crowds, for at least this weekend, despite phrases such as ‘social distancing’ becoming part of everyday language.
New guidelines are issued saying fans, with Salford requesting that all supporters avoid unnecessary physical contact with each other and players at tonight’s match with Wigan.
‘We recognise the desire of fans to show their appreciation, but request this is done through applause, rather than hugs, handshakes, high-fives, or selfies.
Due to this precaution, Dr Devil will not be present at tonight’s fixture, as the club mascot has regular contact with all parts of the crowd. Mascots will also not be walking out alongside players ahead of kick-off.
In addition to the existing antibacterial soap in all washrooms at the AJ Bell Stadium, there will now be additional sanitiser stations inside the grounds and increased cleaning schedules have been introduced,’ they say.
It seems incongruous as the night before Hull and Warrington players hugged each other and vigorously shook hands post-match (although presumably not Lee Radford and Adam Pearson) and there is an awkwardness about how close interviewers should stand to interviewees.
What are other sports doing as of today?
The World Athletics Indoor Championships in Nanjing, China is off until 2021. North Korea cancels the Pyongyang Marathon scheduled for April after imposing a border lockdown due to the level of outbreak in South Korea.
The Seoul Marathon is cancelled and Paris half-marathon, scheduled for 1 March, is cancelled and the French government also decides to ban all indoor public gatherings of more than 5,000 people.
The Barcelona marathon scheduled for 15 March is postponed until October to protect the public, the city hall says in a statement which further justifies Leeds’s stance.
The London marathon is postponed for six months. It was scheduled to take place on 26 April but has now been pushed back to October.
In badminton, the German Open, Vietnam Open and Polish Open – all Olympic qualifying events – are cancelled due to ‘strict health protection’.
Olympic boxing qualifiers initially due to be staged in Wuhan, where the virus broke, and now are relocated to Amman.
The Japanese boxing commission cancels all fight cards scheduled for March after government advice to suspend all pending sporting fixtures.
England’s cricket tour of Sri Lanka is postponed. The decision is confirmed while Joe Root’s side is in the field at Colombo’s P Sara Oval, contesting a warm-up game for a two-Test series.
Danish cyclist Michael Morkov is tested for coronavirus after being put in isolation but comes back negative, however, Chelsea confirm that winger Callum Hudson-Odoi has been diagnosed with the illness.
The club’s first team have gone into self-isolation, while two buildings at their training ground in Cobham are closed.
As well as the halting of all English and Scottish football, UEFA postpone all Champions League and Europa League fixtures, as well as the quarter-final draws for both competitions.
They call an emergency meeting for Tuesday 17 March to discuss whether Euro 2020 can go ahead as scheduled.
The start of the Korean K-League season is postponed. The four teams in the Asian Champions League are playing their matches behind closed doors.
Japan’s J-League postpones all domestic games until the middle of March.
Italy had started to play Serie A games behind closed doors but with the country on lockdown, it is confirmed that all sport will be suspended until at least 3 April to help contain the virus which is escalating at a faster rate than in China.
Three players from third-division club US Pianese have tested positive, the Tuscany-based side confirms and, in Germany, Hannover 96 defender Timo Hubers has also contracted the virus.
Cristiano Ronaldo goes into isolation in Madeira – and later turns his hotels over to the Italian health service – after it emerges his Juventus team-mate, Daniele Rugani, has coronavirus.
Another Juve player, Paulo Dybala, has also tested positive according to reports and he is placed in quarantine.
In France, there will be no top-flight football, whilst the MLS has been suspended for 30 days with David Beckham’s first Inter Miami home game delayed.
The home leg of the Chinese women’s football team’s Olympic qualification play-off against South Korea is switched to Sydney. The squad are held in quarantine on their arrival in Australia.
The Football Association of Ireland says that all matches under its jurisdiction will cease until 29 March, and FIFA says it will postpone South American World Cup qualifying matches due to take place later this month.
The Australian Grand Prix is called off after a McLaren team member comes down with Covid-19, leading to the British team pulling out prior to a decision being made on whether the race will still go ahead.
The Bahrain Grand Prix, scheduled for 20-22 March, is set to be called off as is the inaugural Vietnam Grand Prix, scheduled to take place in Hanoi on 5 April.
The Chinese Grand Prix in Shanghai on 19 April is also postponed with no decision over whether it will be reinserted into the 2020 calendar.
The European golf tour postpones the Maybank Championship in Kuala Lumpur and Volvo China Open in Shenzhen.
After deciding to play with no spectators from the second round of the Players Championship onwards, the PGA Tour cancels the event entirely after the first round, and the prestigious Masters at Augusta is also postponed.
Horse Racing in Ireland is to take place behind closed doors until 29 March although there is some disquiet that this last day of the Cheltenham Festival will again draw close on 60,000 people.
Late in the evening, the Six Nations rugby union men’s match between Wales and Scotland is called off despite there being a number of tartan fans already in Cardiff.
And the Women’s match is also off after one Scottish player tests positive for the virus. The Hong Kong Rugby Sevens is postponed.
All events on the ATP Tour have been suspended for six weeks and the WTA confirm no tournaments will be staged for at least five weeks.
MotoGP cancel their first two races of the season in Qatar and Thailand. Cycling is in doubt after Chris Froome tests positive for the virus on the United Arab Emirates Tour, and the Giro d’Italia is scrapped.
The South Korean baseball league cancels all 50 pre-season games, the first time since inception in 1982, and the World Short Track speed skating championship in Seoul is cancelled.
The National Basketball Association is suspended indefinitely after two Utah Jazz players contract the virus.
The National Hockey League also announces it has paused the 2019-20 season with no date confirmed for when it will resume.
Chief sport’s writer in the Guardian, and league fan, Jonathan Liew writes: “As the industrial complex of global sport clanks to a halt it is only natural to feel shocked, concussed, perhaps even bereft.
“Sport isn’t simply a way of passing the time but a way of marking it. It offers a liturgy, a structure on which to measure the passing days and seasons. Tuesday and Wednesday: Champions League. Thursday: Premier League darts. Friday night: Super League rugby. And then the entire weekend, from the Saturday lunchtime kick-off to the PGA golf on Sunday night: these are the rituals that offer the veneer of normality, a background noise as reassuring and immutable as the ticking of the clock.”
He continues: “Every day, every hour seems to bring more jolts to a system that on some level we all took for granted.
“This is, in short, the most seismic disruption to the sporting calendar since the second world war, with the possibility that an obliterated spring is simply the prelude to an annihilated summer and a torched autumn.”
So what of rugby league? Vulnerable economically and fearful of breaking the watching habit with its habitual problem of how to appeal to a younger audience with its aging attendees, there is an instant dilemma.
It is already almost the last live sport standing here as the cameras focus on and eyebrows are raised at Salford’s winning second half comeback – preceded by a dispute between Phil Clarke against Jon Wells and Brian Carney on whether Leeds should have gone to France, the former maintaining that they should have.
In the absence of other action, they will be at the MAH Jungle on Sunday afternoon for Cas against Saints which Sky will now televise.
The Guardian reports that, ‘Super League to offer Sky Sports all games live to fill gaps in schedule’ and that, ‘Rugby league is continuing to operate a business-as-usual approach for as long as possible.’
Daryl Powell tells BBC Radio Leeds that playing behind closed doors is: “Not an option for rugby league.”
In Australia, Cronulla centre Bronson Xerri is cleared of coronavirus, while the French Federation suspends all of its competitions.
A FFR statement says, ‘We remind clubs of the need to respect the guidance by avoiding as much as possible all physical contact in order to protect yourself as much as possible from this virus.’
The late evening news lists the big sporting events that are off not the, by default, minor ones which are still on.
The night ends with BBC’s Sport Relief raising more than £40 million and pledging cash for coronavirus support.
SATURDAY 14/3
The extent of the impact on sport is seen as the Daily Mirror lists the ‘Sport on TV’ on a weekend that would normally be overflowing.
As an indicator, globally, we are left with:
Football – English National League (15:00) – TV, BT Sport 1: Halifax Town vs Ebbsfleet United (17:20), Argentinian Copa de la Superliga (18:30-00:00), Australian A-League (06:00-10:00), Brazilian Campeonato Carioca (00:30-00:00), Chilean Primera Division (15:00-00:00), Ecuador Liga Pro (00:15-00:00), Mexican Liga MX (03:00-00:00), Paraguayan Primera Division (21:00-00:00), Russian Premier League (11:00-18:00). Turkish Super Lig (11:00-19:00)
Racing – Kempton (13:00-17:10), TV: Racing TV, Uttoxeter (13:50-18:00), TV: Sky Sports Racing
Rugby Union – Super Rugby (13:05-23:00), TV: Sky Sports Action
Darts – Players Championship 7 – Barnsley, TV: pdc.tv
Snooker – Gibraltar Open (8:30-15:00), TV: Eurosport
Netball – Super League (18:00)
Basketball – British Basketball League (19:30)
Mixed Martial Arts – UFC Fight Night 170: Brasilia (22:00), TV: ESPN+
Boxing – Olympic boxing qualifiers (12:00 onwards), TV: online on olympicchannel.com
Badminton – All England Open (10:00 onwards)
League-loving Mark Chapman tweets, ‘On air with 5live sport from midday. Off air at 5 past midday..’
Elsewhere, the One Day International cricket series between Australia and New Zealand is postponed following tighter travel restrictions imposed by NZ prime minister Jacinda Arden, which will affect New Zealand Warriors’ games.
The RFL announce that the draw for the sixth round of the Coral Challenge Cup, scheduled to take place on Monday in New York – a bizarre choice in the first place given likely travel restrictions and that agreement for the proposed new club to be in the competition in 2021 is not yet formally signed off – will move back to Salford, after the American city is put on virtual lockdown.
The Welsh Rugby Union and Rugby League bodies suspend the community game from that evening until 30 March initially, as a precautionary measure.
Leeds confirm that Joe Greenwood – still unnamed – who was tested privately by the club and put into isolation is clear.
The Rhinos confirm that, ‘The player will continue to be managed in line with the current Department of Health guidance however the Rhinos squad will return to full training on Monday in preparation for Friday’s Betfred Super League game against St Helens at Emerald Headingley.’
Former NRL chief executive David Gallop, says that: “As a contact sport, the chances of this spreading amongst the playing group’s got to be high,” and adds that the financial risk model of rugby league may be forever changed.
He advises on a tv interview in Australia that a new era may be dawning where players, who can now earn in excess of $1 million per season and have an ‘act of God’ clause that allows for their contracts to be reduced: “Have to also cop financial downsides to the game.”
Gallop goes on: “Even in rugby league, leagues clubs have put money in to fill shortfalls year after year.
“Conversations are going to have to be had with the [Rugby League] Players’ Association, I think. There are plenty of circumstances where the players look to share in the upside, when there’s a big State of Origin series or something like that.
“We may well be going into a phase where in the years to come, the risk appetite for governing bodies around how they negotiate guaranteed distributions [of income] to clubs, guaranteed distributions to players, are going to have to be re-looked at.
“And, the idea that some kind of reserve for this kind of thing is going to have to be kept in everyone’s mind.”
He also warns: “If there are less games broadcast, then the fees are going to be less.”
In order to keep the NRL playing, South Sydney and recently departed England head coach Wayne Bennett suggests that perhaps players can be isolated in a single city, similar to Magic Round in Brisbane, that could salvage broadcast income.
Noted media pundit Phil Gould posts on his twitter feed: “This situation highlights just how wasteful & poorly run the NRL has been. Overpopulated Head Office has squandered 100’s of millions of dollars. Time for change.”
The NRL matches in round one see washers stationed on the sidelines to disinfect the balls before they are returned to the players when they have been kicked into the crowd, leading to obvious hashtags on twitter.
Melbourne captain and playing grandee Cameron Smith claims he wants the competition to be suspended for at least two weeks so the game can catch its breath and figure out how to best deal with the threat posed by the coronavirus outbreak.
Smith, who is also the general president of the Rugby League Players’ Association, adds after Storm’s opening round win over Manly that: “This thing is bigger than rugby league.”
Occasional Forty20 columnist Tim Roby is ruled out from that match as a touch judge after suffering flu like symptoms.
SUNDAY 15/3
UEFA will hold its teleconference on Tuesday with all 55 of Europe’s national football associations, the European Club Association, European leagues and the international players’ union, Fifpro, when Euro 2020 is expected to be postponed.
With so many sports in shutdown, rugby league looks to find ways to continue. Melbourne Storm propose possible scenarios: postponing the next four rounds and finishing last weekend in October; then if/as necessary playing up to four rounds behind closed doors; delaying by eight weeks and finishing in third week November; moving State of Origin and possibly finishing in post season; scrapping the Kangaroo tour.
Despite accusations that the sport here is lacking leadership in the face of the seemingly inevitable with Castleford set to host St Helens and fifth round challenge cup games scheduled to take place today, the RFL insists it will adhere to government guidance.
They issue a statement saying:
‘The Rugby Football League is following and has followed at all times the Government’s advice and will continue to do so. We are in constant contact with the relevant Government Departments who are informed by the national scientific and medical experts.
This information has been communicated directly to all clubs in the professional and community game over the previous few weeks.
The Government guidance was there was no medical rationale to call off games this weekend, and this was followed by Rugby League and many other sports.
The situation is fast-moving and evolving. By the end of the weekend the RFL will have sent further detailed papers to all clubs in the Betfred Super League, Championship and League 1 on the in-depth plans developed by the governing body over a number of weeks, in discussion with both clubs and broadcast partners.
Meetings will be held with the professional leagues at the start of this week to continue contingency planning and discussions around all competitions and events together.
Community leagues and clubs, and Foundations, will continue to receive information and support from the appropriate RFL teams.’
It seems odd to many that the traditionally anti-establishment sport, the disruptor, is siding so unequivocally with the powers that be, also using the argument that no-one has obviously yet tested positive for the virus.
Toronto Wolfpack owner David Argyle, who also confirms that his club are looking to set up a strategic partnership with an NFL side, is the most vociferous critic, telling the Mail on Sunday: “All other major sports have made a call to postpone their fixtures.
“Rugby league should have done the same, regardless of what was said at the Cobra meeting on Thursday, and it should have been done early.
“We have been told that Europe is at the centre of the coronavirus pandemic and it’s not like the s**t is not going to hit the fan in the UK because it’s coming.
“Football has been pulled because they have contact between players, yet there is a lot more physical contact in rugby league.
“We have sent emails to our governing bodies asking ‘why are all these leagues pulling their games but rugby league is just continuing?’
“Strong leadership is required because the people running the game are being paid big money to make the big decisions.
“If you’re not willing to make the call as a so-called leader, don’t take the money.”
Argyle continues: “All they are saying is ‘we will follow what the government say’ but that’s not leadership.
“Rugby league has an ageing fanbase, the people most at risk from coronavirus, so why not err on the side of safety and postpone the games?
“Right now the brand of rugby league is being damaged because we have no leadership.
“All the RFL are saying to us as clubs is ‘we advise having no mascots at games’ and you have a Leeds Rhinos player self-isolating because he may have coronavirus.
“Then they get threatened with a penalty from the RFL for not boarding a flight to Catalans to play a game of rugby. Are you kidding me?
“They say they are monitoring the situation on an hourly basis but they are operating to a different clock to me – they are operating on a sundial at night.
“Right now we are going into battle with people who lead from behind.”
One club chairman, who does not wish to be named in the feature, goes on: “With the current broadcast deal with Sky up for renewal next year, all eyes are on rugby league right now.
“Lost gate receipts will hit clubs hard financially but that’s not the whole story here.
“This pandemic, which is not going to be a three to four-week job, could be a galvanising moment for the sport where everyone starts to realise the intricacies between the importance of broadcast income, gate receipts and the role of the RFL and Super League.
“But it could also make the big clubs bigger and the weaker ones disappear.”
Featherstone Rovers chief executive Davide Longo is quoted as saying: “The effects of not playing for a month would be catastrophic, not just for Featherstone but most rugby league clubs who are living hand to mouth.
“There is no price for your health, but from a business perspective we depend on matchday income.
“I think we will follow suit with the Premier League and EFL by postponing all fixtures on Monday or Tuesday. It feels inevitable now.”
RFL CEO Ralph Rimmer appears on Five Live from Castleford in the build up to their commentary of the game – they also take the BBC Radio Humberside commentary of the Hull KR v Leigh cup tie on their Sports Extra channel.
He says that the fact there are no current cases of coronavirus at any club differentiates it from sports such as football that have closed down.
“Some messages have been confusing and others have been very straight forward and we’ve adhered to the guidelines. At this moment in time the games are one,” Rimmer confirms.
“We’ve spoken to the Government regularly – more than once a day – over the last couple of weeks. That has ensured we’ve circulated all the directives to clubs on measures to take to minimise the possibility of contagion
“From that point onwards we’ve just stuck to the guidelines and got the games on, and I think the Government have been very good in the way they’ve handled it.
“Our liaisons have been very close – we’ve been regular contact with them, the broadcasters, the commercial partners and also the professional clubs. All we’ve done is taken their advice and applied them.”
He confirms too that Super League clubs will meet on Monday and Championship and League One clubs the following day to determine whether that situation changes before next weekend’s scheduled matches.
“What we have done is circulate lots of different modelling to the professional clubs and we will meet with them to talk about what the options may look like in the future. Until anything changes we’ll be moving forwards.”
Presenter Steve Crossman asks why rugby league has continued to stage matches in front of open stadiums while other sports have effectively closed down.
Rimmer replies: “Our sport doesn’t currently have any positive tests. Football do and that becomes a workforce issue for them and means they are struggling to get games on.
“We are reviewing the situation on a daily basis. All the clubs have doctors who are very keenly aware of the health of their squads, and rest assured everything will be monitored very stringently.”
Asked if playing games in closed stadiums or in one location could happen here, Rimmer adds: “We’ve submitted many options and that is one of them.
“We have to be realistic about the situation the sport is in. Nevertheless the sport has shown itself to be very resilient over the last 125 years and hopefully we can find a way forward.
“The elements we need to consider in this are the health of the general public clearly, player welfare issues, competition integrity and keeping the clubs solvent. All of those come into the equation.
“We submitted something to the clubs from the RFL on Friday night and there are many different options in there about how we go forward in the different scenarios.
“We’ll judge that tomorrow. Clearly this is a test but if we work together we can get through it. These businesses are built on a business model that is dependent on having a certain number of home games played. Clearly this could disrupt that model considerably.”
The RFL supremo is twice questioned on whether a sanction should be applied to Leeds for cancelling their game, Crossman increasingly incredulous that it would even be considered.
Rimmer confirms the governing body: “Will follow the due process.”
He ends with a rallying cry: “We’ve spoken to the commercial and broadcast partners and the clubs and we will have to find a way through it. At this moment in time the broadcasters have been very understanding of the situation and there are no hard deadlines.
“Resilience is something our sport has been built on for a considerable amount of time and we’re going to be tested but I have some confidence we’re going to get through it. We will have to adapt to whatever criteria we are faced with.”
The Tigers defeat Saints with the wider sporting world watching, Wakefield fan Chris Kamara – a clever appointment – part of the Sky Sports’ panel to broaden the appeal to the unfamiliar.
He is ultra-enthusiastic, funny and knowledgeable and adds an extra dimension to the coverage.
Whether the broadcaster’s decision to cover the game affects the number of travelling fans or there is some growing realisation of the potential danger of being in crowds – despite there being no evidence of social distancing in the stands – the attendance is around ten per cent down on the corresponding fixture the year before.
Post-game, St Helens head coach Kristian Woolf is asked what he thinks will happen next, replying: “I wouldn’t have a clue. I’m assuming that something is going to happen in terms of whether it’s paused or behind closed doors.
“We just need a really good strong decision, we can’t go week to week, and we can all crack on and figure out what we’re doing.”
Rugby Union’s Premiership is set to announce a postponement to the league season on the back of the Pro 14 and Top 14 confirming they will be suspending games for the foreseeable future.
The only English top-flight fixture in the calendar had been today’s Premiership Cup final between Sale and Harlequins but that was postponed on Friday after a ‘Quins staff member reported flu-like symptoms.
Their clubs will discuss a number of next steps on Monday, including a four-week suspension of play, however, some clubs feel a longer break of 10 or 12 weeks is necessary.
European Cup competitions are also set to be postponed although RFU-sanctioned club rugby union has continued over the weekend, despite three Championship matches being called off because of precautions over coronavirus.
At 8pm, the board of International Rugby League issue a statement. It reads:
‘The Board advises and supports all members to follow the advice of their national governments and for all players, coaches and officials to follow the advice issued to protect against the spread of the infection.’
IRL CEO, Nigel Wood, says; “These are complex and unprecedented circumstances and we are monitoring the situation to ensure that we support the collective response to this crisis.
“We are not making any decisions about our international competitions at this stage however, we are considering all the options in case we need to make changes later in the year.”
Michael Chammas reports in the Sydney Morning Herald: “With LeBron James and co. in shutdown mode across the US, the NRL will launch “Operation make rugby league great again” in a bold move that could see the game exposed to millions of new viewers around the world during the coronavirus pandemic.
“This column can reveal that the NRL will on Monday open discussions with global sports media powerhouse ESPN about the potential of broadcasting games into the US and around the world after the sport declared it will continue the competition behind closed doors from next weekend.
“With the NBA, Major League Baseball and the National Hockey League – as well as many college sports – suspending their seasons, ESPN is on the lookout for new content to fill its multi-channel network that is viewed across 200 countries around the world……. which could also somewhat alleviate the NRL’s predicted financial woes.”
He quotes ESPN director of international production, Sergio Verdu, from Connecticut who outlines: “Everyone in the industry is trying to find live sport to show, everything is on the table right now. If you asked me a month ago if we’d be interested in [rugby league], it would have been an easy answer.
“But I can see people being far more receptive to the conversation. Right now, with so many sports cancelling or postponing their competitions, there’s a real lack of live events and we are looking into what’s next for us and what kind of content we can provide.
“The other day I saw cricket highlights on one of the main news shows we have and I don’t think I’ve ever seen that before. People have some appetite for new sports.”
Almost simultaneously, Toronto Wolfpack confirm that they have four players who have experienced mild possible symptoms of Covid-19 and they have gone into self-isolation saying: “We take this very seriously and as a precaution, we have stood down our entire playing staff in the UK.
“We train in an environment where we interact with students and members of the public and we vehemently do not want to act as a possible vector for COVID-19 which is why we have taken this immediate action.
“We will continue to monitor this while providing updates to our League’s governors and wait for a directive from them.”
Their superstar Sonny Bill Williams tweets, ‘God willing the authorities lead by example and put the fans/staff and players health first.’
Netball’s Super League and Australian club rugby union are shut down with immediate effect, along with Ferrari’s formula 1 operation in Northern Italy.
MONDAY 16/3
New Zealand Warriors look set to stay in Australia to enable the NRL to remain in-tact and be allowed to borrow players, while PNG Hunters also remain following their 32-30 round 1 Intrust Queensland Cup win over Souths Logan.
Catalans captain Rémi Casty says he will not travel to Wigan this weekend for fear of putting his family at risk and adds: “I don’t think the RFL should sanction Leeds. Even though their player did not contract the virus they had an intelligent reaction.”
The Dragons announce closure of the club’s offices following French government guidelines.
At the same time, Toulouse inform Dewsbury that they will not travel to fulfil Sunday’s fixture at the Tetley’s Stadium as their players have been told not to return to training this morning.
Sam Burgess says the NRL should keep on, disagreeing with Cameron Smith’s stance. “While we can, we keep playing, he tells NRL 360 on Fox League.
“The players have all the protocol around them and the best information. The NRL’s main priority is the welfare and the health of the players and its fans and their families.
“While that’s the case, let’s keep playing. The players want to play. Give the fans who aren’t able to get out much or get to the game something to spectate.
“As a player, it’s your responsibility to stay as healthy as possible, make some different choices away from the game because essentially it’s the players who are going to get hurt in the long run because it’s going to cost the game.”
A newspaper headline there speculates: ‘Will Rugby Union become the first sport to go insolvent in Australia due to the Coronavirus…?’
The NRL tries to assess the economic cost. Under the terms of the A$1.8 billion broadcast deal with Channel Nine and Fox Sports, the value of each fully-televised round is A$13 million, meaning each game is worth more than A$1.6 million.
With them now to be played in a closed stadium, it is estimated to cost about $500,000 in gate receipts, and the NRL has already handed out grants totalling more than $6 million to clubs in promising to help keep them afloat.
Additionally, ARL Commission chair Peter V’landys advises that the game will suffer a A$20m hit if State of Origin is cancelled, and asks for government help.
Cronulla-supporting prime minister Scott Morrision says the NRL is, “not high on the list” to receive federal government assistance.
Reuters reports, ‘Australia’s National Rugby League has been pilloried by fans and media pundits for making a public plea for government funding as it grapples with the fall-out from the coronavirus.’
The Cook Islands Rugby League Association announces that it will consider cancelling the rest of their domestic matches if the outbreak continues to escalate.
There are no cases of Covid-19 in the country but government has stepped up preparation for ‘not if, but when’ the virus arrives.
Tai Nelio, league’s competition coordinator says: “This is serious and the risk of the pandemic spreading is high. So let’s hope it doesn’t enter our little paradise but for now let’s take heed of all the prevention measures and precautions given.”
Despite the growing fears, the Raro Cars Rugby League round six matches go ahead as scheduled.
There is a meeting of Betfred Super League clubs at the John Smith’s Stadium in Huddersfield. Going in, St Helens chairman Eamonn McManus confirms: “I think we really have to hit this on the head now.
“A sense of realism has to prevail regardless of what the Government says. We’ve got to work on an action plan which is basically a rescue plan.”
Before that, he had been interviewed on told BBC Radio Four’s Today programme and told them: “Government has to look at a degree of support for our sport.
“There’s huge financial implications, the very existence of our sport is on the line. We’re different to soccer, probably different to rugby union, we’re at the beginning of our season, this is open-ended both in time and terms of quantum, no-one knows the full extent of it.”
Olympic boxing qualifiers are cancelled and the Northern Premier League suspend all their fixtures until further notice, while horse racing cancels some meetings with the rest set to go behind closed doors until the end of March.
Premiership rugby union is suspended until the weekend of 24-26 April, covering four rounds of league games and the European quarter-finals.
Boris Johnson announces that, “Now is the time for everyone to stop non-essential contact with others and to stop all unnecessary travel.
“We need people to start working from home where they possibly can. And you should avoid pubs, clubs, theatres and other such social venues.
“It remains true as we have said in the last few weeks that risks of transmission of the disease at mass gatherings such as sporting events are relatively low.
“But obviously, logically as we advise against unnecessary social contact of all kinds, it is right that we should extend this advice to mass gatherings as well.
“And so we’ve also got to ensure that we have the critical workers we need, that might otherwise be deployed at those gatherings, to deal with this emergency.”
Hull journalist James Smailes is the first to tweet, ‘It’s my understanding Super League and the RFL have agreed to shutdown all levels of the game until April 3rd at the earliest.’
The RFL and SL release a joint statement at 5.30 pm.
‘The Rugby Football League and Super League Europe today announce a suspension of fixtures in the Betfred Super League season, initially until 3rd April, during which time the season’s structure and fixture rescheduling will be considered.
This follows the latest Government advice regarding social contact and mass gatherings.
The Super League clubs discussed a range of contingency plans with the RFL, and the situation will be reviewed with broadcasters and sponsors throughout the initial suspension.
These changes will also apply across other competitions including the Championship, League 1, Betfred Women’s Super League and the community game, with the RFL to have further discussions of the implications at meetings of Championship and League 1 clubs and community board over the next couple of days.’
It contains a joint statement from Robert Elstone, executive chairman of Super League Europe, and Ralph Rimmer, RFL CEO saying:
“These are unprecedented times, and they present significant financial and commercial implications for Rugby League, which will be further considered during the period of suspension.
“Super League is also an international competition, and consideration has to be given to our clubs in Canada and France, particularly around travel restrictions and scheduling fixtures.
“Player welfare and maintaining the integrity of the competition are key concerns moving forward. Equally our responsibilities to Rugby League communities remain front of mind for all of us.
“The whole country is facing major challenges – and the support of our fans, partners and stakeholders is needed now more than ever before.
Elstone concedes all parties within the sport must work together to ensure it survives a period of financial uncertainty.
“Super League clearly is aware of the gravity of the situation,” he says. “We’re mindful of the communities in our game and, echoing what Ralph said, now is a period of time where we look at the implications and options. It’s a very fluid situation which will change day to day and ourselves and the RFL need to be closely joined in terms of what it means for fixtures and finance, and how we come out of this as healthy as we can.
“It adds further complication and challenge. We’re aware of that and whatever we decide in terms of future fixtures, those two overseas clubs will have a big bearing on what we can and can’t do.
“Most fundamentally, we don’t know when the situation will change for the better, so we have to be very flexible and nimble. There’s a real need for solidarity in the whole sport. Our fans are terrific and we need them now more than ever, just like our partners.”
Wigan owner, Ian Lenagan, adds that the main concern has to be the welfare of everyone involved. “At this time of great uncertainty across the world, our sport’s number one priority has to be the safety and wellbeing of everyone within our communities,” he notes. “We were party to this decision and fully supportive of the measures decided.
“Whilst the postponement of a large number of fixtures across the competition will present a logistical challenge like we’ve never seen before, we trust everyone connected to both Wigan Warriors and the Super League will understand the reasoning behind this stance.
“Suspending the competition will add an element of certainty to our planning in a period that is otherwise filled with uncertainty. We will now take the appropriate steps to review all of our daily activities, our financial plans and implement a working schedule that ensures maximum protection for those within the club and everyone connected to it.”
The Yorkshire Junior League confirms that all age groups games will be suspended until at least 18 April. A further two weeks has been added to the RFL statement to take into account the Easter holidays.
Forty20 Live! Goes on air soon after the pronouncement, it is a draining show to do, tinged with sadness, wanting to get the appropriate tone but also examine potential wider implications.
It feels as though this could be a seminal 1895/1995 moment for the sport and in what shape it emerges, maybe even a blank sheet of paper scenario.
The overall feeling is that we can’t see a resumption before June/July if what has happened in China is anything to go by.
Grassroots football is postponed by the FA along with the Grand National, the Boat Race and PDC Premier League darts in Newcastle, which has been rearranged for 1 October.
Manly prop Addin Fonua-Blake fronts cameras with a face mask, the first NRL player to do so.
New Zealand Warriors owner Mark Robinson says: “The club will remain in Australia for as long as it takes to ensure it remains involved in this year’s NRL competition.”
Hull’s Adam Pearson claims: “If we can’t play in front of crowds, if that goes on for a number of weeks, Super League will go out of existence, it’s as simple as that.”
As a fifth Toronto player is revealed to be in self-isolation, Sonny Bill Williams tweets, ‘Glad to see sanity has prevailed and we have stopped playing.’
The NRL is reportedly angry at Cameron Smith after he called for the 2020 season to be suspended.
“They were fuming about it behind closed doors. In theory everybody is supposed to be on the same page in regards to this. Cameron is not on the same page and they are not happy with him,” say Channel 7 News.
His head coach Craig Bellamy weighs in: “If you’re not going to play in front of crowds in round two, you shouldn’t do it round one.
“I’ve got a mum that is 86 or 87. I’ve got grandkids and I want to be still hanging around them with the wife.”
Overall, NRL crowds are affected in the opening round. North Queensland’s new stadium opening was sold out as they lost to Brisbane in the State derby, and over 21,000 saw Parramatta defeat old rivals Canterbury at Bankwest.
But just 10,239 saw Newcastle defeat the Warriors, while only 6,325 saw South Sydney’s narrow win over Cronulla.
Crowds of around 10,000 witnessed Canberra’s triumph over Gold Coast, Penrith’s shock victory over defending premiers Sydney Roosters, and St George Illawarra’s loss to Wests in Wollongong.
TUESDAY 17 MARCH
Sports lawyer Richard Cramer, interviewed in The Sun, believes the RFL must change its rules on insolvency from the usual 12-point penalty because of the circumstances – as clubs going to the wall may be ‘inevitable.’
“It could be just weeks before some clubs go under,” he says. “They can’t survive without gate receipts.
“Rugby league is going to be under more strain and pressure than perhaps any other sport because it doesn’t have the wealth or the capital resources behind it like football.
“We might be out of it in six to eight weeks and that might just be enough for clubs to survive but players and staff all need paying.”
The draw for rounds one and two of the AB Sundecks 1895 Cup, scheduled for today are delayed with the possibility that the competition this season might have to be shelved.
Robert Elstone admits that radical changes to the structure of the season may have to be considered if there is a prolonged shutdown. “It has to be very fluid,” he is quoted as saying.
“We’ve already talked internally and to the RFL about how we might accommodate that. Ultimately clubs want to protect their regular home season fixture list and that needs to take priority.
“There will come a point when it gets more challenging. But the message is that this is being monitored day to day and fixture lists will emerge on a similar basis subject to what the advice and messaging from Government is.”
It seems as though the Ashes series is coming under threat with a growing realisation in Australia that, even though they are playing the forthcoming round behind closed doors, this may at best be a temporary solution.
It leaks that talks there have already taken place with Queensland and New South Wales about moving the State of Origin series from the middle of the season to October and November, which would clash directly with the Kangaroos’ scheduled visit to England.
Queensland Rugby League suspends its State-wide competitions and community leagues, effective immediately until 5 June. In addition, all junior regional events and state carnivals are postponed indefinitely.
The planned men’s international between Brazil and Chile, which was scheduled to be played alongside the Ipswich Jets v PNG Hunters QRL game on 9 May, is cancelled with travel plans between Australia and South America uncertain.
“The whole situation has escalated so rapidly that we didn’t even have a chance to properly announce the game before it was cancelled,” says Brazil football manager Robert Burgin.
“To their credit the IRL worked with us in giving the green light to the game on short notice and adding it to the international calendar so we could join a day of multicultural celebration for Ipswich and PNG.
“If you’d said to us even a week ago that the game would be cancelled because of COVID-19 concerns, we would have been disbelieving.”
The nations hope to reschedule a game for later in the year, possibly alongside fixtures for other Latin American nations and youth teams.
In addition, talks with a major international travel sponsor for the Brazilian women’s World Cup side, who face England in their opening game in 2021, are put on hold.
“In a long-term sense, that is probably the bigger blow,” admits Burgin. “Landing major sponsors is critical to not only our preparation for the tournament, but also the legacy for rugby league in Latin America by association.
“We’re not a one-trick pony and we have other organisations to talk to, but approaching any business right now about sponsorship is a tough task.”
“We also have national talent development camps coming up in April in Sao Lourenco and, although we are determined to press ahead, there are some key personnel who have had to forego travel.”
Colombia is continuing its intention to host a Latin American championship from 11-15 November near the city of Medellin, with possibly five other nations set to be part of the event.
Football’s Euros are postponed to 2021, the UEFA Champions League final moved to 27 June and Europa League final to 24 June.
Horse racing is suspended across England until the end of April with the forecast of disaster for some trainers and courses.
In a ray of better news, Kirklees Council confirm their purchase of the Grade II-listed George Hotel in Huddersfield, the birthplace of rugby league in 1895, which is set to be redeveloped.
The hotel was built in 1851 but closed in January 2013, with the council making the purchase as part of a plan to deliver its £250 million blueprint vision for the town centre.
Council leader, Councillor Shabir Pandor, says: “The George Hotel is much more than a building to people in Huddersfield and to rugby league fans. It’s a proud part of our history and we want to make sure it is also part of our exciting future.”
Toronto Wolfpack admit to being in talks with Super League and the RFL as the coronavirus outbreak threatens to wreck their homecoming.
Wolfpack UK business manager Martin Vickers admits: “It’s a complex situation. We’re urgently in dialogue about proceeding with plans around these games.
“We have not contemplated playing games anywhere else but Canada. The home games are our sole source of income.
“Unlike other clubs, we do not receive central distribution and it would be a huge factor if we were to lose the competitive advantage of playing at home.”
Clubs from the Betfred Championship and League 1 meet by conference call with the governing body to consider the implications of the suspension of the 2020 season.
Ralph Rimmer, says: “Public health and concern for the most vulnerable is everyone’s priority. It was important that we exchanged information and allowed the clubs to discuss their position as soon as possible following the confirmation that the season will be suspended.
“This will have a significant impact on clubs at all levels, as on all businesses, in all sectors. It was a positive meeting at which all agreed on the importance of a collegiate approach for the game as a whole – focusing on three key areas of player welfare, club sustainability, and the integrity of the competitions.”
All activity in the community game is suspended including training and coach education courses.
The RFL states it is committed to making more coaching, learning and fun resources available to coaches, clubs, parents and children – focused on staying well and engaged in the sport in different ways.
There will be content including quizzes, competitions and prizes for all over their social media channels and websites, together with access to the new Mental Fitness Charter resources set up for RLWC2021.
A full programme has been lined up for OuRLeague and rugby-league.com, starting with great matches like the England v Tonga semi-final from RLWC2017 on Saturday.
Red Hall suspends England Performance Unit activity, which means the gatherings that had been planned for the England Wheelchair squad in Sheffield this weekend, and by new England head coach Shaun Wane at Old Trafford on 23 March, have been put back.
A report says some Super League clubs could face up to a £1m shortfall by the end of the year. Hull KK owner Neil Hudgell believes not playing the Hull derby on Good Friday could cost the club up to £150,000 and they also stand to lose a series of lucrative concerts scheduled for their Hull College Craven Park home, including Westlife and Little Mix on the weekend of 10-12 July.
Salford director Paul King issues a statement, the Red Devils believed to be the Super League club most at risk financially.
“Yesterday’s decision to suspend the competition was a difficult one for all clubs, but I assure you, the correct decision was made,” he acknowledges.
“Above all else, focus must turn to doing whatever is in our power to help protect one another. The local community and family are at the core of our values as a club, but they feel more important than ever at this moment.”
He adds: “Measures have been put in place to protect both playing and non-playing staff from the virus and a financial plan is being implemented, to attempt to ensure the club is able to navigate this uncertain time also.
“That being said, we would be hiding something from you if we did not admit that the current situation will test our club to the limit.
“Without a benefactor, the support of our loyal fan base will be vital throughout what is set to be the most challenging time I can remember for our club.”
Rugby League Cares regrettably put their biggest fundraiser in 2020, the Empire State 500 on hold.
Leeds Rhinos release a behind the scenes video of their backroom staff briefing and plans for the players during shutdown, which includes indications that Super League might not recommence until June and go on until November.
They also confirm that eight members of the first team squad/backroom team are currently in self-isolation after showing symptoms of possible coronavirus.
Hull FC players are told to stay away from their training ground for a week and then mixing will be modified to just small groups at a time.
It is mooted that the sixth round of the Challenge Cup could proceed behind closed doors in two and a half weeks’ time.
The BBC are scheduled to show two ties live and according to their rugby league correspondent Dave Woods, the broadcasters are in talks with the RFL about how the competition could go ahead.
“There is an option for those matches to be played behind closed doors, I know discussions are going on with the BBC on that,” he tells Mark Chapman live on BBC Radio 5 Live.
“The RFL have not got a lot of money. The way they make money is the big events, the semi-finals of the Challenge Cup, the final of the Challenge Cup, the Ashes series.
“If the RFL aren’t making money from those events because they don’t take place for whatever reason, they are in dire financial circumstances. Game wide it is a worried sport.”
The annual Tour de Yorkshire cycle race is cancelled.
WEDNESDAY 18/3
“We’ll play it on Christmas Day if we have to,” says an NRL insider referring to the Grand Final.
The mid-year Oceania Cup Test between New Zealand and Tonga on 20 June is now under threat along with the Kangaroo tour.
The New South Wales Rugby League board agrees to postpone all community competition until at least 1 May, effective immediately, while all major NSWRL competitions have been suspended until 31 May.
The Papua New Guinea Rugby League suspends all its competitions including the Digicel Cup, Affiliate League, National Schools and all domestic and international representative programmes until Friday 5 June.
Australian PM Scott Morrison confirms measures banning outdoor gatherings of 500 people or more will remain in place for at least six months, while the new 100-plus ban on indoor gatherings could throw leagues clubs, pubs and sporting venues into disarray.
The cities of Townsville and Cairns make offers to accommodate the NRL in its entirety as does the town of Calliope near Gladstone whose Marley Brown Oval hosted a Gold Coast Titans v Manly Sea Eagles game in 2018.
It has a resort with 1,392 rooms at Homeground Villages, which could become a bunker for the NRL to ensure the competition is played in isolation.
“These are some of the best facilities you will ever see,” Gladstone Region Mayor Matt Burnett tells the Sydney Morning Herald.
“We have the capacity to host every NRL team, plus broadcasters and offer them a quarantined, insulated facility away from COVID-19.
“I don’t believe anywhere else in Queensland, or Australia for that matter, could offer what we could.”
“The players would actually have less risk of catching the disease than they would have in just normal social activity,” notes ARLC chair Peter V’Landy’s
Australia’s player’s union informs its members they face pay cuts if coronavirus results in the NRL season being curtailed or cancelled.
Their NRL stars could play the State of Origin series for free this season as part of a $15m sacrifice by the players designed to protect the game’s lower earners, and help save the code and its clubs.
The Australian newspaper reports that rather than immediately cutting the salary cap, the RLPA has raised the prospect of potentially slashing representative payments, the retirement fund, the marketing pool and the injury hardship fund.
Here, players may agree to defer part of their wages in an effort to prevent clubs from suffering financial ruin during the enforced shutdown, says trade union organiser GMB’s Garreth Carvell, who represents 600 players.
“From a union perspective, we want to look after our members but, from a long-term, wider point of view of the game, there’s no point in making sure that everyone gets paid to the detriment of three or four clubs,” the former Warrington, Hull and England prop tells the Press Association news agency.
“I plan to speak to the Championship and League 1 CEOs as soon as possible. It’s a case of trying to keep the game alive while this is going on.
“We don’t know how long it’s going to last – that’s the other issue. It’s got the potential to have a massive effect on clubs and the game. These are scary times.”
Carvell is also trying to set up an emergency meeting with the All Party Parliamentary Rugby League Group of MPs, in a bid to lobby the Government for help.
“It’s about having an input and a voice for the players, who have a lot to contribute towards the game,” he adds.
“I’m trying to meet with Super League and sort out player-engagement as part of the upcoming television deal, the cost is minimal and it’s trying to get owners to see that.”
The Fiji National Rugby League is reviewing all its domestic and international events. They confirm they have postponed the 2020 Vodafone Cup competition which was scheduled for the 25 April, to the 18 July.
Their Secondary School boy’s tour to New Zealand has been cancelled although the Vodafone Trophy and Vodafone Shield competitions will proceed this weekend.
New Zealand Rugby League has postponed all of its competitions, tournaments and training until 2 May, although restrictions do not prevent clubs operating on their facilities.
Leigh owner Derek Beaumont tells website Love Rugby League that he has nothing but praise for the RFL’s handling of the situation, and says they hope that their players can continue training for the foreseeable future.
Widnes chief executive Phil Finney adds their turbulent experiences of administration in 2019 has left them well prepared for this crisis, with the club confirming that their club offices and shop will be shut down for a period.
Toulouse’s players and staff have been told to stay at home since Monday following the closure of their facilities.
Swinton, who are due to host Bradford in one of their most lucrative home games this weekend and are yet to play a home league game this season, issue a statement on their website.
Director Steve Wild, says: “We are in constant contact with the RFL who themselves are diligently following government protocol and passing on exceptionally detailed and helpful information.
“I’m confident that all of our fans and partners will fully understand the situation and continue to support the club through this unprecedented period of uncertainty. If we stick together and show innovation and resolve then we will be in a position to emerge with strength once the situation recovers.”
League 1 side Rochdale say their players are being placed on restrictive training. A Hornets statement reads: “We would like to place on record our gratitude and thanks to the RFL who are supporting the whole sport.
“At a time of unprecedented uncertainty, we will all need the support of our community. We are all in this together and should work as a family.”
London Skolars, who lose long-serving chief executive and founder Ian ‘Hector’ McNeil and chairman Terry Browne soon after, “primarily a result of the coronavirus pandemic,” advise ways that supporters and partners can help the club, including joining the lottery, using their online shop and donating via easy fundraising.
Hunslet head coach Gary Thornton confirms: “We’re following government guidelines and avoiding non-essential contact, so we’re not training this week; we’re relying on players to follow their own programmes to keep fit.
“We plan to regroup next week to prepare for the home game with Coventry but obviously everything is very much up in the air, in all walks of life, right now.”
A further RFL statement says: “Our sport, like all sports, is facing unprecedented challenges, and we recognise that applies in the southern hemisphere as it does here.
“At the moment our contingency planning for the remainder of this season involves looking at all options but there is still more planning to be done with nothing confirmed and nothing ruled out either.
“We are in constant dialogue with all our partners. The key for the game, internationally as well as nationally, is to be collegiate, creative and flexible.”
Ralph Rimmer addresses the community board – which consists of representatives from Armed Forces Rugby League, BARLA, Tier 4, Tier 5 Adult (which includes men’s, women’s, wheelchair and Masters) Tier 5 Youth and Junior, universities, Schools Rugby League, foundations and a participants representative – and confirms: “Our community clubs and other organisations are the bedrock of the sport, and they will be significantly affected by the current situation – as will competitions such as the Warners Champion Schools, and the Sky Try programme, which have helped to get so many children involved with Rugby League in recent years.
“We are already speaking to our partners at Sport England who are keen to provide additional support to grassroots clubs; and the RFL will work with clubs to explain the impact of the current suspension – and how we ensure the game emerges on the far side in a position to continue to grow and thrive again.
“Our Development team also outlined some of the ways we plan to use rugby league as a force for good through the crisis, in terms of promoting physical and mental health to our players and supporters.
“A range of mental fitness resources for all adults and children in the community is being launched, alongside skills and fitness resources on OuRLeague.
“The welfare of everyone involved, the sustainability of the clubs and getting ready for the return of the sport is key now and over the weeks ahead.”
Rugby league joins others in further lobbying the DCMS for a commitment to funding and launches #SkillToPlay and on-line resources which showcase some of the game’s finest players.
The idea is to encourage youngsters to emulate the skills of such as Tommy Makinson, Tom Johnstone and Regan Grace, offering prizes for the best and funniest videos submitted using the hashtag.
RFL director of participation and development, Marc Lovering says: “Right now, physical activity and keeping fit is more important than ever. And for regular young players, and those just starting in the sport, it’s an opportunity to develop skills and learn new ones before the action starts up again.”
Phil Smith, director of sport with Sport England comments: “This is a very welcome initiative by the RFL. We want to ensure we face the unprecedented coronavirus crisis together and do everything we can to avoid a negative impact on the nation’s physical activity levels.”
Joe Greenwood advises he has tested negative, but Warrington and Keighley acknowledge a member of their squads has self-isolated after showing possible Covid-19 symptoms.
Cook Islands Rugby League boss Charles Carlson defends his code’s initial refusal to help combat the virus by calling off its games.
It did so indefinitely yesterday, but only after being publicly called out by secretary of health Dr Josephine Herman, for failing to understand the significance of the country’s challenge.
“When we have a body that does not understand the significance of what we are doing – well, I want to be polite, but …” she says.
Carlson is also emergency management Cook Islands director in the Office of the Prime Minister.
He claims: “The initial decision to continue with this weekend’s games was made by the clubs: they wanted to carry on and see how things went, people asked why they should have to shut down when the country was still only Code Blue.
“Instead, they agreed to encourage washing hands, coughing etiquette, and other measures. The decision wasn’t taken lightly.”
“This coronavirus pandemic will also affect our international test match versus Samoa in June, so it does have a big impact with the sporting community, locally and internationally.”
The Professional Cricketer’s Association confirms, all forms of recreational cricket are suspended, including training, pre-season friendlies and any associated activity.
THURSDAY 19/3
ESPN tell the NRL, and by virtue Fox Sports, that there is a strong appetite to open discussions when they are ready to do next TV rights deal, as here the Racing Post promotes the competition as one of the only sports around the world to wager on.
The Australian governing body confirms it is considering the possibility of: shifting players to a warmer climate during winter, when the flu season is expected to peak in Australia; there is no accurate time frame on when fans will be able to attend matches; the final representative calendar – including the future of the Kangaroos tour scheduled for October – is still to be decided; and the women’s calendar – including the NRLW and Origin clash – remains a “major priority.”
Some time Forty20 and Guardian ‘No Helmets Required’ columnist Gavin Willacy tweets, ‘For this week only, rugby league in the UK’s national sport. They were even giving @nthqldcowboys – @NRL_Bulldogs score updates on @5liveSport sports bulletins this morning!! Enjoy it while it lasts folks…’
In the match, the first played behind closed doors, Jason Taumalolo’s 345 metres in the Cowboy’s 24-16 win breaks Steve Price’s all-time record by a forward of 323.
Football’s National League let it be known that they will ask FA for £17m ‘salvage plan’ to save 68 clubs with each needing, on average, £250,000 to survive.
Meanwhile, the I newspaper reports from the RFL that: “In addition to following Government guidelines throughout, we have also responded to their requests for information about the financial impact of this situation on all levels of our sport and stressed the urgency of the situation.”
One Super League owner tells them that his club will able to survive until May but after that the situation will become grim. “We need to get a grant and not a loan from the government,” he is quoted as saying. “A lot of this lost revenue won’t come back even if we get our games back on.”
Wakefield chief executive Michael Carter thanks the club’s supporters after almost £3,500 is raised in a day. “Nine have signed up for Trinity TV, ten have bought 24 Club 1873 Lines, and 15 people have joined Squadbuilder, all in all raising £3,490 for the club.”
He also says that in order to fulfil Sky’s requirements for matches, games may have to re-start behind closed doors.
Judith Cummins MP, chair of the All-Party Parliamentary Group, confirms: “I will continue to work with the RFL, the clubs, the players’ association, and the Government to support the long-term sustainability of the whole sport.
“Rugby league is a force for good in our communities and I know it will play its part in responding responsibly to the public health emergency we face.”
Kingston upon Hull East MP, Karl Turner, raises the need for support for clubs in the House of Commons.
Everyone at Halifax agrees to a pay cut.
Tim Roby is cleared of the virus and former Leeds Rhinos player Rob Burrow, who has motor neurone disease and is classed as among the most vulnerable, urges people to “do what’s right” and follow the guidelines on hygiene, social distancing and staying home.
Leeds director of rugby Kevin Sinfield announces that he will run a solo marathon around the hills of Saddleworth on Sunday in aid of his former teammate and to raise the profile of MND Association, as the later Manchester Marathon he planned to do so in is cancelled. He subsequently sets a personal best.
The FA extends the suspension to the current 2019-20 football season until at least 30 April because of the continued spread of coronavirus.
The Dutch, Spanish and Monaco Grand Prix’s are postponed, meaning the season won’t start before the beginning of June.
Prince Harry announces that the Invictus Games can no longer take place and will be rescheduled to May/June 2021
FA Premier League clubs are told to pay back £762m if they fail to finish season. The threat of losing so much money means that some are now desperate to get games played behind closed doors.
FRIDAY 20/3
New Zealand Warriors announce they will play the whole season in Australia and stay separated indefinitely from family and friends back home. CEO Cameron George says: “We’re in, we’re committed, game on.”
The mid-year Oceania Cup Tests involving New Zealand, Tonga, Samoa and the Cook Islands are postponed.
IRL Officials are committed to each Pacific nation playing at least one Test this year and the end-of-season matches remain as scheduled for now.
Former Hull KR back rower Clint Newton is formally appointed as the new RLPA CEO and declares of the crisis: “We will get through this together.”
Rugby league shuts down in Malta and Russia effective immediately and, as a consequence, the upcoming representative fixture between Malta XIII and UK team Heavy Woollen – scheduled for 4 April – will have to be postponed, as will the Island’s domestic championship, which was scheduled to commence in May.
ARLC director Jon Christie says: “The situation is constantly changing in Russia and we will update the rugby league community when we have more news.”
The world snooker championship in Sheffield is postponed and the RFU confirm the end of the season for all league, cup and county rugby in England, with the exception of the Gallagher Premiership.
Labour party leader candidate Lisa Nandy, MP for Wigan, writes passionately in the New Statesman; “Few sports encapsulate a place like rugby league does. For over a century the sport has secured a deep and enduring legacy in towns across the north.
“More importantly, the sport is also predominantly located in former industrial towns and cities, places which are all too familiar with facing economic challenges.
“In towns like mine, Wigan, and across the north, the skilled jobs we lost weren’t replaced. Towns which powered the industrial revolution and led the world for almost a century struggled to adapt to changing circumstances.”
She continues: “Towns lost some of their purpose and, over time, grew older. Older people tend to have less disposable income.
“Clubs cut their cloth accordingly, find it ever more difficult to make ends meet, relying more and more on the benevolence of good sponsors and revenue from crucial TV deals.
“It has been estimated that every £1 spent by community rugby league clubs generates a social return of £4.08. The health and societal benefits of rugby league are without question.
“All of which means the survival and success of rugby league is a symbolic test for the government’s commitment to our towns. A commitment to rugby league is a commitment to the identity, aspirations and social cohesion of the famous towns which play the sport.
“Because rugby league isn’t like other sports. In many towns the sport is the sole sporting identity they have. Not only that, but the clubs themselves are firmly embedded in the communities they serve.”
Warrington say they are back in training with players voluntarily working in small groups, to minimise risks and hand sanitizer and wipes are regularly in use.
Toronto Wolfpack hooker James Cunningham says he is suffering from ‘cabin fever’ after going into quarantine.
With no games, resourceful clubs resort to playing out virtual ones on their social media feeds. Castleford tweet out, ‘All the key stats from last night’s epic game against Salford Red Devils @jordo_rankin putting in a Man of the Match performance with a hat-trick of tries! Full game available on Tigers TV.’
York announce they are to play Featherstone in a virtual match on Sunday and that the two clubs have agreed to the special event with the hope it will lift spirits.
NZ Warriors now have more than 300 new members in Australia since announcing they would stay there to ensure the NRL could continue with 16 teams.
Clubs from the Championship and League 1 meet with the GMB to work through the issues facing the sport.
Schools close apart from for the children of those who are in the key jobs.
The new county cricket season won’t start until 28 May at the earliest, with the likelihood that the sport will look to promote the more lucrative shorter form games ahead of it.
The Government announces that, ‘cafes, bars, pubs and restaurants to close from tonight. Night clubs, theatres, cinemas, gyms and leisure centres have also been asked to close “as soon as they reasonably can.”’
Chancellor Rishi Sunak says they will step in to support wages, with grants to cover 80% of the salary of retained workers, up to a total of £2,500 a month.
All employers will be eligible for the scheme aimed at those not working but kept on the payroll rather than being laid off.
“We want to look back on this time and think of how we thought of others and acted with decency” he says, of an action that could be a saviour for keeping rugby league clubs alive.
In the space of seven days, the world and rugby league as a microcosm of it, has changed beyond recognition.
Figures at this point reveal that deaths in China, where the epidemic is believed to have started, have reached 2715 but there are no new cases, and they are gradually reopening society.
The death toll from the virus in Italy has risen by 637 to 4,032, the largest daily rise in the country since the beginning of the outbreak, and public parks are shut.
Spain becomes the fourth country to register more than 1,000 deaths after China, Italy and Iran.
There are now 12,612 confirmed cases in France, with 450 deaths and 5,226 people in hospital.
Australia reaches 709 cases, up 153 since 2pm yesterday, on a trajectory of doubling about every three days, and set to hit 1,000 by the weekend.
The total number of confirmed coronavirus-related deaths in the UK now stands at 177 but again the rate is exponential.
The overall global death toll passes 10,000, confirmed cases near 250,000, with more than 80,000 victims having recovered.
Super League and the RFL says it will meet with clubs next Tuesday afternoon to discuss the next moves.
