Covid concerns could force League World Cup postponement or Kiwi players pulling out
A decision will be made next month on whether the Rugby League World Cup will take place this year, but NZRL CEO Greg Peters is hopeful it goes ahead and also that New Zealand teams are involved.
The World Cup is scheduled to take place in England in October and November, with the Kiwis, Kiwi Ferns and a New Zealand team for the physical disability tournament all expected to be involved.
However, because of concerns over the coronavirus pandemic and the requirement for quarantine for two weeks on return from the UK, there’s no guarantee it will happen this year.
Given that so many of the players who’ll play in the World Cup will be heading there from New Zealand and Australia, if there is a significant number who don’t want to spend two weeks in quarantine after the tournament, it would force organisers to postpone it until 2022.
Peters says he remains hopeful that it will go ahead as planned.
‘‘From the organiser’s perspective and the federations participating, we are working 100 per cent to try to make it happen, but we recognise the significant challenges that are still in front of us and the uncertainty of the current environment,’’ Peters said.
Although the UK is getting a grip on the pandemic, it’s unlikely the New Zealand and Australian governments will lift requirements for people returning home to spend two weeks in a managed isolation facility.
‘‘We’ve spoken to our player groups and there are concerns,’’ Peters said.
‘‘But the messages we’ve had back is that they would be prepared to do that for a World Cup.
‘‘Having said that, that might not be 100 per cent of the people, because we haven’t spoken to everyone individually.
‘‘We spoke to both our player groups as recently as this week and there was some positivity, but what they really want is clarity on what the Covid protocols are around attending will be.
‘‘That’s the uncertain part, because a lot can change between now and October-November.’’
Ultimately, it will be the NRL players who’ll decide if the cup goes ahead as planned.
If the Kangaroos and Kiwis send understrength squads, it would make the tournament pointless.
Lina Caccamo, general manager of elite women and international relations at the RLPA, says they’ve been working closely with organisers, to get the players’ input into what should happen.
‘‘With us being involved from
the beginning, we have a lot of confidence in the work that they’re doing, but what’s difficult for them is that they don’t know what the situation is going to look like come October-November,’’ Caccamo said.
‘‘So for them to make a hard and fast decision based on what’s happening now, is difficult because they don’t want to jump the gun too early, but when does it become too late for the players, who are trying to manage their lives and make plans?’’
Caccamo said the players’ association won’t be the ones making the final decision on whether it goes ahead, but they are expecting organisers to make a call in a few weeks’ time.
‘‘It’s not our place to enforce a deadline date, that’s for the nations to negotiate with the Rugby League World Cup.’’ she said.
‘‘We do believe that we’re coming up to the time when players need to start making decisions.
‘‘The World Cup has said that June will be when they make a final decision, so we’re following up with them on that and it’s coming up pretty soon.’’