Australia and New Zealand WITHDRAW from Rugby League World Cup in England amid coronavirus fears
Furious organisers slam the ‘selfish, parochial and cowardly decision’ by Australia and New Zealand to pull out of the Rugby League World Cup in England (and giving them just FOUR MINUTES notice before announcing it)
- Australia and New Zealand have withdrawn from the Rugby League World Cup
- Both nations have called for its postponement amid fears over coronavirus
- NZRL chief executive Greg Peters insisted it was ‘simply too unsafe’ for the teams to take part in the tournament in England
- Peters also cited ‘stark differences’ between the management of the pandemic in the UK and Australasia
- The two nations could now be hit with penalties after withdrawing at short notice
- Organisers said the decision to withdraw was ‘disappointing’ amid claims they were given just FOUR MINUTES notice of the decision before it was announced
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Australia and New Zealand rugby league have been branded ‘selfish, cowardly and parochial’ after they withdrew from the sport’s World Cup in England and called for its postponement amid fears over coronavirus.
The game’s governing bodies in Australia and New Zealand gave the event organisers just four minutes notice before they released a statement to say they would no longer participate in the event scheduled for October.
They claimed their concerns over player safety with respect to Covid had not been met – something that is strongly disputed by the Rugby League World Cup.
It comes as Covid infections in Australia continue to spike, with half the country in lockdown and Prime Minister Scott Morrison apologising for a stuttering vaccination programme that is well behind other developed nations.
Meanwhile, the family’s of Australian players were today seen lying in the sun and sharing food across balconies while in a quarantine hotel in what appears to be a breach of rules for the sport’s coronavirus bubble.
Today, Simon Johnson, chairman of the Rugby Football League, pulled no punches as he hit back after the devastating announcement.
‘This selfish, parochial and cowardly decision is one that need not have been taken because the Rugby League World Cup organisers have bent over backwards to offer every assurance to the Australians and Kiwis,’ he said.
The organisers point to the use of charter flights and quarantine arrangements and despite Britain being gripped by a third wave of coronavirus, fuelled by the Delta variant, they insist they could host a safe tournament.
Australia and New Zealand say they will not compete in the 2021 World Cup because of player welfare and safety concerns
The view of the Rugby Football League is that Australia, in particular, is trying to protect their lucrative domestic game, with clubs fearing that players having to quarantine on return for 14 days will miss pre-season.
The organisers are furious at the inconsistences in Australian and New Zealand sport.
Johnson added: ‘The British public would want to know why they have made that decision now about a tournament in October. They have athletes currently in Tokyo, the Rugby Union team is planning to come to Wales in October. The New Zealand cricket team have been here already…
‘Other sports and athletes seem to have no problem.’
And he added: ‘We are not prepared to take it lying down.’
A joint statement from the two nations read: ‘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 well-being.’
NZRL chief executive Greg Peters cited ‘stark differences’ between the management of the pandemic in the UK and Australasia and insisted it was ‘simply too unsafe’ for the teams to take part in the tournament.
He said: ‘There are stark differences between how the pandemic is being managed in the UK compared to Australasia and recent developments have highlighted how quickly things can change.
‘The tournament organisers have moved heaven and earth to make this work, so it is not an easy decision, but the Covid-19 situation in the UK shows no sign of improving, and it’s simply too unsafe to send teams and staff over.’
Reigning champions Australia (pictured) and New Zealand have withdrawn from this autmun’s Rugby League World Cup in England over coronavirus fears
The Rugby League World Cup tournament organisers said the decision to withdraw at short notice as ‘disappointing’ – as it was claimed they were told about it just four minutes before the announcement.
‘RLWC2021 note the disappointing statement made by the ARLC and NZRL which may have wide ranging implications for international Rugby League,’ a statement read. ‘RLWC2021 were informed at very short notice and will continue discussions with all stakeholders to agree on the best way forward. A further statement will be made in due course.’
Australia and New Zealand’s announcement comes just days after Prime Minister Boris Johnson posed with the trophy outside No 10 Downing Street, where he was joined by tournament ambassadors and executives.
Australia and New Zealand both signed participation agreements to compete in the World Cup but could now face huge financial penalties after withdrawing from the tournament at short notice.
Prime Minister Boris Johnson (right) poses with the Rugby League World Cup trophy last week
Mr Johnson was joined by ambassadors and executives of the Rugby League World Cup
Sportsmail learned earlier this month that the contracts contain significant financial penalties for any nation that withdraws at late notice.
The World Cup is projected to generate around £40million so cancellation would have disastrous financial implications.
In addition, postponing it by 12 months could result in a series of costly knock-on effects. A one-year delay would clash with the 2022 football World Cup in Qatar. It is feared, the would create the possibility the BBC could withdraw some live coverage.
Sportsmail also reported this month that Australia were threatening to undermine the credibility of the tournament by sending a reserve team.
There was resistance from National Rugby League (NRL) clubs in Australia, who called for the competition to be postponed until next year because Covid-19 quarantine rules mean players would only return to their clubs two weeks before trial games begin for the 2022 season.
Australia and New Zealand both signed participation agreements to compete in the World Cup but could now be hit with penalties after withdrawing at late notice
With Australia’s borders currently closed, anyone returning to the country from overseas would have to spend 14 days in government-managed quarantine.
Players must take a mandatory six-week rest break after quarantine, that would have impacted the new campaign by essentially wiping out pre-season.
But now, the competition has taken a massive hit with two of the tournament’s biggest teams pulling the plug just months before it kicks off in Britain.
The 16-team men’s World Cup gets underway on October 23 with the final at Old Trafford in Manchester on November 27.
