Giants coach backs Covid crackdown as pack star suspended
HUDDERSFIELD GIANTS head coach Simon Woolford fully agrees with the Rugby Football League decision to suspend James Gavet for 14 days after his prop breached Covid protocols.
An addition to the Operational Rules has been made in response to the ‘current exceptional situation’ regarding the pandemic and it means the governing body can impose sanctions and fines for behaviour away from the game.
Three Super League players had transgressed rules, the others being reigning ‘Steve Prescott Man of Steel’ Jackson Hastings, of Wigan Warriors, and Warrington Wolves teenager Riley Dean.
Gavet’s offence was dated as August 13 and a mandatory two-week suspension from all training and playing follows from that date.
The New Zealander, 30, did sit out their 19-18 loss against Warrington two days later but Woolford told The Yorkshire Post: “Although he didn’t play, we weren’t even aware of the incident which was just him attending a public gym.
“James has a couple of niggling injuries and he’d missed quite a bit of training so we took the decision he’d use the time to get himself right.
“He’s allowed back on the 28th but I agree with the stance on this. I said a couple of weeks ago we need to be more stringent as we can’t have another Hull FC episode; all the players, all the coaches – we all need to be extra careful and do the right thing. It’s good the RFL has come out to crack down on it and, if we want to finish the season, this is what needs to happen.”
With the former Newcastle Knights front-row not allowed back to training until Friday, it remains to be seen whether he will play on Sunday when Giants face a Hull side making their own return after a dozen players and staff tested positive for Covid. Woolford said: “It will depend. He’s got some work to do this week so we’ll see. We’ll wait and see what shape he is in when we do get him back in and how his body is. We’re not exactly flush with options at the moment. We’ve got quite a few blokes missing so we’ll just have to assess that when he gets back in.”
There was confusion, though, over the ‘suspension’ of Great Britain half-back Hastings; he transgressed on August 7 but played in Wigan wins over Wakefield Trinity and Leeds Rhinos during the next 14 days.
The RFL later explained the rule was not sanctioned until last week, by which point Hastings had played twice, but clearly players now, at least, know any breach will be punished.
A weekly public update will be provided and RFL chief regulatory officer Karen Moorhouse said: “Covid protocols were established in the weeks leading up to the resumption of the Betfred Super League season earlier this month, with an emphasis on player education and collective buy-in, and with clubs encouraged to agree and enforce their own codes of conduct.
“In the main the protocols have been observed, and we are grateful to the majority of clubs and players and other individuals involved for their responsible and disciplined approach.
“However, we are in a situation where breaches of the protocols by any individuals connected with the game could have serious repercussions for all – either an impact on individual and public health, or in terms of disruption to the rescheduled fixtures list.
“It is therefore important that appropriate sanctions reflecting the reasons for the regulations are imposed. The ability to enforce a 14-day stand-down reflects this.”