Rugby Australia has postponed the domestic competition it’s planning to replace Super Rugby following the government’s latest restrictions to fight the spread of the coronavirus.
RA initially planned to start the remodelled competition involving the four Australian Super Rugby teams plus the Western Force on April 3, but now says it won’t begin until at least May 1.
All Australian Super Rugby teams have ceased training for an initial two-week period, after which players will begin modified programs while the competition comes under further review in mid-April.
SANZAAR, suspended the 18-round Super Rugby season at the completion of Round 7 last week, following travel restrictions imposed by the New Zealand and Australian Governments.
RA chief executive Raelene Castle last week said any ongoing restrictions will place extreme pressure on their finances.
Needing to find content for their broadcast partners, RA last Friday revealed plans for a five-team round-robin domestic competition.
But on Monday, Castle said the game’s stakeholders were united behind the suspension of the competition.
“Rugby Australia and the Super Rugby teams have made the decision today to suspend the start of the revised competition on the latest guidance from the various Government and Health authorities and our chief medical officer,” Castle said in a statement on Monday morning.
“Our priority is the health and welfare of our athletes and our wider Rugby community as we continue to adapt to an unprecedented and constantly-evolving situation for our game and society.
“The decision to postpone the restart of the competition until May 1 is in line with the suspension of all community Rugby in Australia and will give us the opportunity to review our position across the whole Rugby landscape in a month’s time.
“Our message to the entire Rugby community today is to follow the advice of the Government and health authorities.
“We must do whatever it takes to stop the spread of the virus.
“The spirit of the Rugby community is a powerful force, and the only way out of this crisis is to work together and look out for each other.
“While this is having an unprecedented impact on our sport and many other sports, this is bigger than sport and that is why we will continue to put the health and welfare of our people above anything else.”
Carlos the Argie
Roar Guru
Extremely unlikely.
jcmasher
Roar Rookie
Nah mate COVID-19 isn’t something that catching it means you’re immune for the future. You can catch it and get it again. It’s a horrible disease
jcmasher
Roar Rookie
Oops! And now they’ve become responsible as well
Paul D
Roar Rookie
Before sunset
AndyS
Guest
Sure it includes animals, but mostly it involves humans (https://www.health.gov.au/health-topics/immunisation/about-immunisation/are-vaccines-safe#vaccine-testing). If they are in a hurry, which bit do you think gets abbreviated or parallelled? Did you miss the bit about the Americans already putting a vaccine into human trials (https://www.abc.net.au/news/2020-03-18/coronavirus-vaccine-human-trial-covid19-immunity-hopes/12067024)? And apparently the UK is planning to do so next month. That is how you test these things...give the vaccine or treatment, then give the bug a clear run at it. The observation is merely that, if sportspeople wanted, they would generally be at less risk than most. And certainly the only ones with the collateral benefit of then being able to go back to earning hundreds of thousands of dollars. Not for football, but it could certainly be a definite side benefit if they had the minerals.
Laurence King
Roar Rookie
Only in the second half of their games lol
Laurence King
Roar Rookie
The obscenely overpaid prima-donnas could always go out and get a real job.
Laurence King
Roar Rookie
Vaccines go through mulple layers of testing including animals. But this is not what is being talked about here. No, the comment was about actually giving them the virus. That's madness, and what for? Bloody football.
Paul D
Roar Rookie
Part of me wants to catch it now just to get it over with. If I need treatment I’ll get it before the hospitals are swamped. But no, I don’t endorse anyone to follow my incredibly irresponsible thought bubbles. If I was a conspiracy theorist I’d say that’s why so many politicians and stars are showing up sick
AndyS
Guest
How do you think innoculations and treatments get tested, all the more so if they are trying to get something to market in months instead of the decade+ it would normally take. It is pretty out there and they may well not do it, but if the players volunteered there is no reason it couldn't or shouldn't be done. Few of the volunteers that will have put their hand up before this is over will be as fit or low risk, or have had as much to gain on the other side either.
Laurence King
Roar Rookie
It is logical, however, young and fit as they are, it is just not possible to know beforehand if someone has an undiagnosed condition. So ethically they won't do that and neither should they.
jeznez
Roar Guru
Hey! They might be disgraces but they are my disgraces, and I'm happy to see a picture of them. Even if that picture is of them standing under their posts with blank looks on their faces while waiting on their opponent's conversion attempt, it's certainly the most common shot we'll see of them from this season. The above said, I think we need to institute family rules. You are allowed to say bad things about your own team but not about anyone else's.
Nat
Roar Guru
You're right. Send every one to Centrelink, that's a much better idea. AFL clubs have taken 24hrs to send their non-essential staff to the dole office. They would want to hope those people are still around for resumption of the comp. NRL: short term inconvenience vs the ability to pay their bills and keep the competition alive. Who's making a bigger sacrifice?
Gary
Guest
Andy S i agree entirely.
Paul D
Roar Rookie
This comment won’t age well I’m guessing.
Greysy
Roar Rookie
This comment will age badly... NRL just put almost all staff on leave. Think the comp will be cancelled before the weekend.
Matt
Guest
Why show a picture of the deadbeat Tahs ? They are a disgrace.
jeznez
Roar Guru
Seems to be talking about Hawaiians! :laughing:
Perthstayer
Roar Rookie
Damn quick though, must have one iota of intelligence. And digits, for keyboard use
AndyS
Guest
I suppose the other option could be for the players to back their immune systems and allow themselves to be given the virus under controlled conditions. Assumes they would be clear once no longer infectious, but could be done as part of the search for treatments and make them useful emergency response bodies once done. The league could really sell the community-minded sacrifice of it all...