CORONAVIRUS OUTBREAK Almost all main codes in hiatus
FAR North Queensland’s sporting calendar is now clear.
The threat of the coronavirus has now shut down almost all major sports in FNQ.
Football, Aussie rules, netball, cricket and rugby league were all added to the growing list of sports on hold in the region, as Australians take steps to protect themselves and their communities during this global health crisis.
Cricket Australia’s call for all competitions to be cancelled was backed by Queensland Cricket and Cricket Far North (more, right).
Football Federation Australia issued a four-week suspension yesterday afternoon, sidelining every grassroots competition in the country until April 14.
FNQ Football administrator Alex Srhoj, who along with his team had spent the past week working to ensure junior football could proceed this weekend, said it was the only course of action which could have been taken.
The AFL issued a statement about 5pm yesterday postponing all AFL and AFL State association managed or operated leagues until May 31.
The recommendation covered all AFL community matches, training sessions and face to face AFL, WAFC and SANFL education courses.
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AFL Cairns, who had already cancelled the official season launch, will now be put on hiatus with officials to work on a new fixture list.
Netball Queensland called for the suspension of all community netball activity in the state until Monday, April 20, which included all games, training and grading.
All grassroots rugby league games and carnivals are suspended, covering both junior and senior players from this weekend. The Queensland Rugby League’s board met and released a statement about the suspension last night.
Cairns District Rugby League cancelled all junior and senior trial games after a meeting on Monday night.
THE decision to shut down school sport was made much easier after six of the eight schools involved pulled out indefinitely due to COVID-19 directives.
Cairns high schools compete under the umbrella of the Cairns Interschool Secondary Sports Association across several sports, including football, netball and Aussie rules. But games won’t be played, with competitions suspended as of today.
CISSA Sport Convenor Shane McMenamin said the schools made what could’ve been a tough decision to suspend the competition much easier as the threat of coronavirus shut down most sports nationwide.
McMenamin said he hoped to salvage the season next term, but it depended on the threat of COVID-19 at that time.
Those seasons aren’t the only ones affected, with several swimming carnivals and crosscountry events cancelled.
School Sport Australia has already cancelled the national triathlon, aquathlon, senior baseball, tennis and softball championships, as well as several international tours.