The first rugby Test between Australia and France on July 7 has been moved from the SCG to Suncorp Stadium in Brisbane to avoid the COVID lockdown in Sydney.
The French squad is midway through a two-week lockdown ahead of the three-Test series.
“It’s never an easy decision to move a fixture,” Rugby Australia CEO Andy Marinos said in a statement.
“One thing that the COVID-19 pandemic has taught us is that we have to be able to pivot quickly.
“Following the announcement yesterday, we were faced with yet another challenge and we knew we had to respond swiftly.”
It would have been the Wallabies’ first Test match at the SCG in 35 years.
Suncorp Stadium in Brisbane will now host the first and third matches of the series against France, with game two at AAMI Park in Melbourne on July 13.
A two-match women’s Test series between Australia and Samoa has also been postponed.
“We will continue to work with the respective health authorities around Australia to ensure all events are safely delivered for fans, players and officials,” said Marinos.
“I am equally disappointed for our Wallaroos squad following the postponement of their series.
“It’s been a really challenging year for them with the postponement of the Rugby World Cup to 2022 and now this delay, before we can finally see them finally taking the field in the coming months.”
With NSW recording 30 new locally-acquired cases of coronavirus on Sunday and Sydney in a 14-day lockdown, the Western Force’s women’s team have pulled out of the Super W competition after just one round.
The Force drew 17-17 with the President’s XV in their season opener last week and were due to take on the NSW Waratahs in Coffs Harbour on Sunday.
But that game has now been cancelled after the Force made the decision to abandon the competition due to safety fears.
The Force will now return to Perth, which imposed its own restrictions on Sunday after a COVID-19 scare in Western Australia.
Force players will have to complete two weeks of quarantine on arriving back in Perth.
North Melbourne’s AFL players and staff were forced into isolation on Sunday, having been at Melbourne airport at the same time as a confirmed case.
There were also concerns for Hawthorn’s VFL affiliate team Box Hill, who took on a club that travelled on the same flight as an infected flight attendant.
AFL fans in Perth were turned away from Sunday’s clash between West Coast and the Western Bulldogs at Optus Stadium after WA’s COVID-19 scare.
Supporters were also locked out of the international hockey matches between the Australian and New Zealand men’s and women’s teams in Perth.
You can check out all the Wallabies fixtures right here on The Roar.
Ken Catchpole's Other Leg
Roar Guru
Jacko, to be clear, I am more in agreement with you, than not. Are your ears burning? You are being discussed on Brett’s thread as we speak. Apologies in advance for my humour at your expense.
both when help is requested, and also when it is not. ???? Some ( RA ) dont see a need even tho its desperately required.
Tooly
Roar Rookie
If we can get Nick Berry up there as Ref we will be unbeatable.
Paul D
Roar Rookie
It already has been……
Ken Catchpole's Other Leg
Roar Guru
Will those differences be measured Paul?
Paul D
Roar Rookie
Millions of injections of vaccine have been administered. Let’s see how the death rates compare in relation to those who got the vaccine and those who got COVID compare. Unless you think we should keep our borders shut forever?
Wandering Aloud
Roar Rookie
This is my last post on this. It’s taking up too much of my time… The moment you are used ‘’ around leaked confirmed that there will be no changing your mind. But, no, the vaccines are not in trial… They’ve all been through Phase 3 trials. https://www.reuters.com/article/factcheck-covid-vaccines-idUSL1N2M70MW https://www.australianclinicaltrials.gov.au/what-clinical-trial/phases-clinical-trials
liquorbox_
Roar Rookie
and that is why the SCG should not be getting Rugby matches at all
Ken Catchpole's Other Leg
Roar Guru
I am unsure as how you as so sure that ‘outbreaks’ have ‘leaked’ from anywhere. But in regard to the jab as a realistic option- Are you aware that not a single Covid vaccine, has an approval any where on the planet? Every one has an emergency use authority. That means they are in trial, and anyone accepting one is the guinea pig, without recourse to law for damages if they are injured.
Wandering Aloud
Roar Rookie
KCOL, What I’m saying is that the Sydney numbers for this year are not relevant. They are artificially deflated by the National Border closure, and hotel quarantine. The virus is not endemic in Australia. Every single one of these outbreaks has leaked from hotel quarantine. As such, we need to be looking to jurisdictions who have experienced the defects of uncontrolled COVID in the community (the USA for instance) to inform our decisions around COVID rules. Hence the lockdowns over a few cases to try and prevent uncontrolled spread. Could, and should, our politicians be much more transparent about their decision making process and the data that informs it? Absolutely, you’ll get no argument from me on that.
Ken Catchpole's Other Leg
Roar Guru
Your strawman/lizard reference and its likely cynical genesis is noted, potsie.
Ken Catchpole's Other Leg
Roar Guru
Kiwis are extremely helpful, both when help is requested, and also when it is not. :rugby:
Ken Catchpole's Other Leg
Roar Guru
WA, Please tell me the number of verified Covid infections (not mere cases), hospitalisations and deaths in Sydney this year, that justify to you your stated ‘lockdown or vaccinate’ imperative.
Ken Catchpole's Other Leg
Roar Guru
And here is another one https://t.me/coronavaccinsbijwerkingen/4153
Ken Catchpole's Other Leg
Roar Guru
Sorry Bourkos, missed pasting the last link. Here is another one, with numerous links to data counterpoints. https://www.deconstructingconventional.com/post/18-reason-i-won-t-be-getting-a-covid-vaccine
Guess
Roar Rookie
No need to guess they have the numbers, just don't want to spend the money. Funny tahs Doorn said something similar "we don't know what the future holds so we decided to save and ef up the present instead" :laughing:
Wandering Aloud
Roar Rookie
I answered it above. The deaths and hospitalisations are overseas. The national border closure is keeping the case numbers down. When do you propose that we lift the border closure if we don’t have a vaccine?
Guess
Roar Rookie
I can say the same about your reply. It’s hypocritical. First you say it’s to prevent hospital overwhelm and accepted that vax doesn’t fully protect from spreading. Now you’re saying that it’s to protect community. Make up your mind. Yes people should have a choice: Jab or we won’t treat you(assuming hospital overwhelm is your/govs real concern). That way you leave people a sense of control over their lives, unlike threatening them with job loss or other essential needs and freedoms. Regarding It may not matter to you what you do with your life You’re projecting your own selfishness on me. Take your jab so you will feel safe and it will be like the common cold and life goes on, I’m not forcing you not to. But don’t force your will on me and tell me what to do with my own life to suit you. It’s not minding your own business, that’s where it all gets ugly.
AndyS
Guest
The alternative would be to stop telling people everything will be completely back to normal once everyone is vaccinated. Because the more they say it, the more people will believe it, and the harder it will be to do anything other than abandon a lot of people to their fate having just spent over a year avoiding doing exactly that. Reality is that it is the next step in recovery, then we'll see where we are. Overpromising is just dumb, especially if it makes vaccinated people think they are 'cured' when all it might have actually done is make them asymptomatic but still capable of spreading it around.
Ken Catchpole's Other Leg
Roar Guru
Virulent strain? Really? Can you clarify?