NO-SHOW COVID CLUBS FACING FORFEIT THREAT

SUPER LEAGUE clubs could have to forfeit matches in the event of Covid outbreaks under new proposals being prepared by the RFL.

The measures – which have to be ratified by the RFL board – would see opposition teams awarded a 48-0 win.

It would be a move away from the points percentage system used to decide the league over the last two seasons, and an attempt to encourage clubs to fulfil fixtures when possible.

Points percentage was introduced in September 2020 after the pandemic began to take its toll and clubs struggled to raise sides. It was retained last year and extended to cover the Championship and League 1.

Wigan were the only top-flight club to fulfil all their fixtures in the regular season while Toulouse, coached by Sylvain Houle (above), played just 14 of their 22 matches on their way to promotion from the Championship.

Whether to bring back scrums was also being reviewed, said the RFL.