TO SUSPEND FIXTURES
GIANTS AS CLUBS CHOOSE
HUDDERSFIELD Giants’ season is on hold after Super League was suspended for at least the next fortnight.
After a six-hour meeting of clubs at the John Smith’s Stadium yesterday, and following prime minister Boris Johnson’s call to stop all social gatherings in a bid to halt the spread of coronavirus, the Rugby Football League announced they had no other option but to halt all fixtures at every level for the next fortnight.
Matches in both the Betfred Super League and the Coral Challenge Cup were played at the weekend when most sport was mothballed due to the pandemic as the RFL closely stuck to Government guidelines.
However, Prime Minister Johnson’s announcement that the Government was moving away from mass gatherings prompted a change of policy.
RFL chief executive Ralph Rimmer said: “Following the latest Government announcement, fixtures for the entire game will be suspended up until April 3.”
The RFL announcement was made in conjunction with Super League.
With no fixtures for at least two weeks, clubs will suffer some financial hardship. Super League executive chairman Robert Elstone said: “Super League clearly recognise the gravity of the situation.
“We’re very mindful of our responsibility to our community, to our fans and to our players and the way the decision felt inevitable.
“Now is a period of time where we look closely at the implications and our options. It’s a very fluid process, where it’s going to change certainly day to day if not more frequently.
“We just have to be nimble and flexible, most importantly us and the RFL need to be very closely joined in what it means in terms of fixtures and what it means in terms of finance and how we come out of this in as healthy a position as we can.
“Player welfare and maintaining the integrity of the competition are key concerns moving forward. Equally our responsibilities to Rugby
League communities remain front of mind for all of us.
“The whole country is facing major challenges – and the support of our fans, partners and stakeholders is needed now more than ever before.”
The Giants were due to host Hull at the John Smith’s Stadium on Thursday night in Super League.
They last night posted on their website: “The Rugby Football League and Super League Europe today announce a suspension of fixtures in the Betfred Super League season, initially until 3rd April, during which time the season’s structure and fixture rescheduling will be considered.
“The Super League clubs discussed a range of contingency plans with the RFL at their board meeting in Huddersfield, and the situation will be reviewed with broadcasters and sponsors throughout the initial suspension.”
Meanwhile, the sixth round draw for the Challenge Cup still went ahead lsat night. The games are due to be played between April 4&5, currently the first weekend back in action for clubs.
Draw: Wigan v Warrington, York City Knights v Castleford, Widnes v Catalans, Wakefield v Featherstone, Newcastle v Toronto, Leeds v Hull KR, Salford v St Helens, Sheffield v Hull.