There will be no club rugby played in Australia until at least the start of May after Rugby AU and the state governing bodies unanimously decided to suspend community rugby in response to the coronavirus pandemic.
The decision comes after Super Rugby was put on hold over the weekend, with fears the rest of the season will be cancelled due to the spread of the virus.
The decision on lower-level rugby in Australia means no matches, training sessions or other courses will take place during the hiatus. Rugby AU’s national development panel will meet once a week to review their response to the pandemic.
Full statement regarding community rugby from Rugby Australia
Today, following a meeting of the national development panel, Rugby Australia along with the state and territory member unions have unanimously agreed to postpone all community rugby until the first week of May, effective immediately.This recommendation covers rugby matches, rugby training and face-to-face rugby education courses. Although this decision has not been made lightly, it has been made with the interests of the participants, families and the broader community as the priority.
In arriving at this decision, Rugby Australia and the member unions have considered public health information and the advice of the Rugby Australia chief medical officer, Dr Warren McDonald. The group acknowledges that this decision is a more conservative approach then has currently been recommended by the Australian, State and Territory Governments. However, it has been made to provide clarity to the rugby community in a challenging and disruptive time.
Rugby Australia and the member unions are fully committed to supporting the game through this difficult time and the decision will allow for six weeks of planning to deliver a modified season which will commence, at this stage, at the beginning of May. The modified season will vary at a local level to best support the needs of our local rugby communities.
It is acknowledged that there are a variety of rugby competitions underway and Rugby Australia will work closely with member unions to minimise this disruption.
It is not the intention for this decision to interfere with the non-rugby related activities of our rugby clubs, such as operation of licensed facilities. Government advice should continue to be followed in this regard. Rugby Australia and member unions will also work to increase the opportunity for people to engage in online education to ensure our critical workforces are ready for the recommencement of community rugby.
The National Development Panel will meet weekly for the foreseeable future and will review this position and communicate any updates regularly.
The Late News
Roar Rookie
Curiouser and curiouser!
Purdo
Roar Rookie
TLN: I stumbled onto a website that claims that the British royals are Lizard people. I found that site by looking up one of the Royals on Google. An amazing site - it shows you what's out there, but it didn't say what colour they were.
Greysy
Roar Rookie
Dunno, sorry mate. I'm sure MPC can tell you though.
The Late News
Roar Rookie
Wait for the April fools events!
The Late News
Roar Rookie
Lizard People? That's really cool. What colour are they?
The Late News
Roar Rookie
Do they have Martial law on Mars?
Train Without A Station
Roar Guru
Castle needs to show leadership and ban fitness training below Premier Grade!
Greysy
Roar Rookie
Yeah, just had a look at that websites description on wikipedia. If this isn't satire, I'm genuinely disgusted that you have anything to do with rugby in this country and I wish you only the worst in life MPC.
piru
Roar Rookie
I get my information from the most trusted news site in the world, Renegade Tribune. Yep ok
rebel
Roar Guru
How on flat earth can Renegade Tribune and the Roar co-exist. :laughing: :laughing: :laughing:
jeznez
Roar Guru
Just read a description of who Renegade Tribune are. Gross.
jeznez
Roar Guru
No worries, I’ll just ignore my cousin who lives in Italy and tells me they have 13 intensive care beds left in the entire country and are triaging cases that would normally be eminently saveable. You’ve got an alternate news source I should trust over a family member’s direct experience? Righto.
Carlos the Argie
Roar Guru
@MPC. Your comment/answer is very interesting. Given that you suggest that we should not listen to "Mainstream media + government", as if these were one and the same in every country (but I digress), maybe you should tell us how we must get educated by this situation. I am sure you can provide is with the proper sources of information, data, analysis and insight that is required for us to read to determine the proper behaviors we must engage in. We already have one Roarer who decided to rename the virus in contradiction to the entire medical and scientific community, maybe you can then educate us on the proper sources of information. I'll be self-quarantined waiting for your stuff, just in case.
Hoy
Roar Guru
This is every subbies nightmare!!! Extended Pre-Season!!!!
Monorchid
Roar Rookie
Gee MPC. As Sir Humphrey Appleby used to say, you're being very brave. I'm not sure what you mean by martial law. I hadn't seen that for any country at the moment. I'm sorry you won't be refereeing for a while but, while rugby may be the game they play in heaven, I'd rather not watch or play it there.
Drew
Roar Rookie
Silver lining :)
Greysy
Roar Rookie
You sure are out there mate. Do you believe in lizard people too? Are they behind all this? Also do you really not believe in SARS and Ebola? It's pretty clear that they're real, but ok... And again, none of those countries have declared martial law - you clearly don't know what it means - suspension of normal law and government by the military. That aint happened anywhere mate.
piru
Roar Rookie
None of those countries are under martial law
Train Without A Station
Roar Guru
They have not declared Martial Law in any of those countires. And yes, the government want you worried because if you are not, the virus spreads and overloads the health system, leading to more deaths beyond COVID-19.
rebel
Roar Guru
Face plam