Rugby League World Cup

[MiketheSnow]

Oz and NZ have pulled out plunging the tournament into irrelevancy

Political decision by all accounts

[Stargazer]

NZRL AND AUSTRALIA WITHDRAW FROM RUGBY LEAGUE WORLD CUP

The Australian Rugby League Commission (ARLC) and New Zealand Rugby League (NZRL) today informed the International Rugby League (IRL) and Rugby League World Cup (RLWC) organisers that Australia and New Zealand will not compete in a 2021 World Cup because of player welfare and safety concerns.

The ARLC and NZRL have again requested the RLWC2021 be postponed until 2022 to minimise risk of players contracting COVID-19 and ensure the best outcome for player wellbeing.

The decision to withdraw from the RLWC2021 comes after considering the risk of COVID-19 infection in the United Kingdom, the worsening environment in Australia and the time a majority of NRL Telstra Premiership players will spend away from home under strict biosecurity conditions prior to the World Cup. The ARLC and NZRL have resolved, that in the present environment the risks to athletes and officials travelling to the UK to participate in the tournament this year are too great, and it is unable to endorse Australia and New Zealand participating in the RLWC in 2021. ...

[canefan]

@stargazer that's pretty much ended the tournament as a credible event

[Nepia]

That sucks, hope they have a comp down here instead with NZ, Oz and the PI nations.

[mikey07]

This post is deleted!

[mikey07]

@nepia Yeah was thinking that would definitely draw the crowds.

[Bovidae]

All those other Sydney, I mean international teams, like Lebanon will probably withdraw too.

[Machpants]

Google didn't help me but I am sure I read that something like 75% of all the players at the RLWC are NRL players. So, yeah, bit of a non event then!

EDIT: Do the NRL players have to be released like rugby? Certain window (which with quarantine could totally mean they couldn't make it anyway)?

[Bones]

@mikethesnow "too dangerous for the players"

Like fuck.

[sparky]

Odd decision given NZ cricketers have been to the UK and back with no ill effects.

[Bones]

@bovidae said in 2021 Rugby League World Cup:

All those other Sydney, I mean international teams, like Lebanon will probably withdraw too.

It's our year!

[Godder]

@sparky said in 2021 Rugby League World Cup:

Odd decision given NZ cricketers have been to the UK and back with no ill effects.

Part of it is having to maintain bubbles in the domestic season as well, just too hard on the players.

[sparky]

How about replacing the official Aus and Kiwi teams with squads of UK-based expats who have been double vaccinated? Time for some of us to get our boots out?

[Bones]

@sparky said in 2021 Rugby League World Cup:

How about replacing the official Aus and Kiwi teams with squads of UK-based expats who have been double vaccinated? Time for some of us to get our boots out?

Sorry, Lebanon has already called.

[sparky]

The reaction of Clare Balding, President of the RFL.

[Bones]

@sparky I'm guessing $$$£££

[MiketheSnow]

@bones said in 2021 Rugby League World Cup:

@sparky I'm guessing $$$£££

I’m guessing the administrators said ‘fucked if I’m looking after these mongrels in iso’

[sparky]

RFL chairman Simon Johnson is not happy:

Watch Live Sports TV - News & Live Sports Channels on Sky

[sparky]

More from RFL boss Simon Johnson.

[Machpants]

@sparky said in 2021 Rugby League World Cup:

More from RFL boss Simon Johnson.

Same sort of fuckwit that is ok with old fashioned League tackles. Going from bubble to quarantine to bubble to quarantine to pretty much straight back into bubble for pre season is shit.