The Timaru Herald

Aussie PM adopts ‘no jab, no play’ NRL policy

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Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison says players who refuse to get a flu shot should be banned from competing in the NRL.

Morrison is adamant players should abide by a ‘‘no jab, no play’’ policy after Gold Coast anti-vaxxer Bryce Cartwright polarised the rugby league community with his stance.

Titans star Cartwright has rejected a request to be vaccinated as part of strict measures to re-start the NRL competitio­n on May 28 and must now explain his actions to NRL chief medical officer Paul

Bloomfield.

‘‘When I was social services minister I started the ‘no jab, no play’ rule into the childcare facilities,’’ Morrison said yesterday.

‘‘And I think the same rule applies there – no jab, no play.’’

An NRL spokespers­on said players who refused to receive the shot would be dealt with on a case-by-case basis amid consultati­on with club and NRL medical staff.

While reports claimed Cartwright faced a ban, the NRL spokespers­on refused to speculate on possible penalties if a player could not justify refusing to take the shot.

The NRL is not aware of any other player rejecting the flu shot.

A Rugby League Players Associatio­n (RLPA) spokesman said yesterday a player who refused to be vaccinated had the option to sign a waiver in order for them to continue to train and be available for selection while their case was dealt with by the NRL.

The spokesman said the RLPA strongly recommende­d flu shots in biosecurit­y protocols but believed players who refused should be dealt with case by case and that the vaccinatio­n was not mandatory.

The league community appears to be split down the middle by Cartwright’s stance as the majority of NRL teams returned to training yesterday.

NRL great Paul Gallen backed the Titans star.

‘‘I’m not against the flu shot, but I just think if they don’t want to have it, they don’t have to have it,’’ he said.

‘‘If they don’t want to put it into their body, they don’t have to have it.’’

But Penrith legend Mark Geyer is adamant Cartwright should get the jab if he wanted to play.

‘‘I respect he and his partner’s decision for his family, if they don’t want to get the kids vaccinated that’s fine,’’ he said. ‘‘As for Bryce, I’m sorry but no flu shot, no play.’’

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