Euros move to 2021 in light of virus
SPORT
THIS summer’s European Football Championships has been put back a year as a result of the coronavirus outbreak.
The Champoionship, scheduled for this summer, will now take place in 2021.
Meanwhile, on home shores rugby league and union at all levels has been suspended until at least April 3 while the Grand National and the Boat Race have both been cancelled.
The temporary postponements mirror that enforced by the Premier League and EFL last week and comes as the government urged people to avoid mass gatherings and nonessential social contact.
It means Salford’s matches at home to Castleford on Friday and away at Hull FC the following week are definitely off, with the situation to be reassessed ahead of the scheduled Challenge
Cup round of fixtures due to be held on the weekend of April 4-5.
In a joint statement, Super League chairman Robert Elstone and RFL CEO Ralph Rimmer said: “These are unprecedented times, and they present significant financial and commercial implications for rugby league, which will be further considered during the period of suspension.
“Super League is also an international competition, and consideration has to be given to our clubs in Canada and France, particularly around travel restrictions and scheduling fixtures.
“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.”
As a result of the suspension, Salford do not have the opportunity to immediately back up the impressive victory over league leaders Wigan, though coach Ian Watson admitted there are greater considerations to be made.
“You’d love to play again after that performance because, hopefully, that will give the boys the confidence that we’re a good team and if we play how we train, we’ll be successful.
“But obviously, there’s a real seriousness around the virus at the moment and it’s about making sure everyone is safe and everyone is looked after.
“If that means that you can’t play, then you can’t play - everyone’s health is much more important than a game of rugby.”
Prior to the decision taken by Super League, Leeds Rhinos did not board their scheduled flight to the south of France to take on Catalans because one of their players was displaying symptoms of Covid-19.
But a week ago, the
Red Devils travelled to Perpignan - undertaking the trip following lengthy discussions with the sport’s governing body and medical professionals.
“It was fine where we was,” said Watson. “Everything was good, everything was clean, everything was really well-catered for.
“But the biggest one is your own personal hygiene. Our physio staff and our medical team spoke before we left.
“It was funny really, everyone had a Vicks nasal first defence spray and hand sanitiser in a little plastic bag and it was about you looking after yourself first of all.
“Obviously, with it being so widespread at this moment in time, it’s something you’ve got to be aware of, but I think you’ve got to leave it to the people who know and the organisation to make the right calls for the club and competition.”