All senior and junior rugby league has been cancelled until at least May 1, with all trial games, training sessions and competitions to be suspended effective immediately following an announcement from the sport's governing body on Wednesday.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
This means Group 10, the Wallerawang Landscaping Cup - formerly known as New Era Cup, Woodbridge Cup, Group 11 and the Castlereagh Cup are all pushed back by six weeks.
The decision was announced by NSW Rugby League in partnership with the NRL and all affiliated states following advice from the NRL chief medical officer Paul Bloomfield and government agencies.
NSWRL chief executive David Trodden said the recommendation covers all Rugby League matches, trials, training, courses and other club activities in NSW and is made with the health and well-being of players, coaches, staff, officials and volunteers and the broader community as a paramount consideration to assist in slowing the spread of the COVID-19 virus.
It's the last major sporting code to be postponed, with nearly every other code shut down until May.
The Group 10 competition was due to kick off on Easter Friday but will now be pushed back, with the league yet to determine what it means for fixtures and dates.
The Andrew Johns and Laurie Daley Cups will both be postponed, as will the under 23s and women's Rams competitions.
The NSW Women's premiership and Canterbury Cup will also be postponed.
"The situation regarding COVID-19 continues to change daily and we are very mindful of the need to be prepared, and take the practical, necessary measures required to maintain hygiene standards," Trodden said.
"At the same time, we also need to remain calm, and not add to any sense of public panic.
"The NSWRL will continue to actively monitor the situation and is committed to making decisions in relation to COVID-19 and its impact on Rugby League activity based on the advice from the Federal Government and other medical experts.
"The NSWRL will continue to provide updates on its position to the football community as the latest information becomes available."
More to come.
We have removed our paywall from our stories about the coronavirus. This is a rapidly changing situation and we want to make sure our readers are as informed as possible. If you would like to support our journalists you can subscribe below...
