Australia and New Zealand have withdrawn from the Rugby League World Cup due to be held at the end of the year in England, citing player welfare and safety concerns.
In a joint statement on Thursday afternoon, the Australian Rugby League Commission and NZRL urged the tournament to be postponed until 2022 to avoid the risk of a player catching COVID-19.
It comes just a week after tournament officials confirmed the event would go ahead with or without defending champions Australia.
The Australian Rugby League Commission (ARLC) and New Zealand Rugby League (NZRL) today informed the International Rugby League (IRL) and Rugby League World Cup (RLWC) organisers that Australia and New Zealand will not compete in a 2021 World Cup because of player welfare and safety concerns.
The ARLC and NZRL has again requested the RLWC2021 be postponed until 2022 to minimise risk of players contracting COVID-19 and ensure the best outcome for player wellbeing.
The decision to withdraw from the RLWC2021 comes after considering the risk of COVID-19 infection in the United Kingdom, the worsening environment in Australia and the time a majority of NRL Premiership players will spend away from home under strict biosecurity conditions prior to the World Cup.
The ARLC and NZRL have resolved, that in the present environment the risks to athletes and officials travelling to the UK to participate in the tournament this year are too great, and it is unable to endorse Australia and New Zealand participating in the RLWC in 2021.
ARLC Chairman Peter V’landys AM said player wellbeing and safety must come first.
“Not participating in this year’s World Cup is not a decision the Commission has taken lightly, but we must put the best interests of our players and officials first. Protecting them is our absolute priority,’’ he said.
“In the current environment, the risks to the safety, health and wellbeing of the players and officials travelling from Australia to participate in the tournament this year are insurmountable. The majority of NRL players are currently living away from home under difficult biosecurity protocols. They would then be required to remain under protocols and away from home for the duration of the tournament before again quarantining on return to Australia. This is too much to ask our players and officials to do
“We have again requested the IRL and Rugby League World Cup consider postponing the event until 2022 to enable all players to participate.”
NZRL CEO Greg Peters said the decision to withdraw was in the best interests of players and officials.
“The safety and wellbeing of our people is the main priority, and unfortunately, that cannot be guaranteed to our satisfaction,” he said.
“There are stark differences between how the pandemic is being managed in the UK compared to Australasia and recent developments have highlighted how quickly things can change.
“The tournament organisers have moved heaven and earth to make this work, so it is not an easy decision, but the Covid-19 situation in the UK shows no sign of improving, and it’s simply too unsafe to send teams and staff over.
“We understand how disappointing this is for fans and those involved; however player and staff safety remains paramount.”
Nico
Roar Rookie
Yeah if it allows the WC to go ahead then I'm all for it. If V'Landys applied the same enthusiasm eith the WC as he did with Project Apollo then I'm sure they could find a way forward. Clearly it's a weakened side but I don't see it as a cheapening of the jersey - these would be the best players available for Australia in the circumstances, as with 4 gamer Ben Ikin for Qld in '95, Aaron Raper in '95 wc or English-based Darren Smith on the '03 tour. If they did a job for us then I'd happily cheer them on like any other oz side, with maybe the added bonus of some tighter contests
KCR
Roar Rookie
Cheers Nico, there's some quality players in that group. This team would definitely be better than none and they are there already so they can train straight away and no time away from family.
Nico
Roar Rookie
Here’s how an Australian side of Super League players might look: 1. Bevan French 2. Jai Field 3. Lachlan Coote 4. Cheyse Blair 5. Jy Hitchcox 6. James Maloney 7. Aidan Sezer 8. Darcy Lussick 9. Nathan Peats 10. Matt Prior 11. Joel Thompson 12. Sione Mata’utia 13. Jason Clark 14. Josh Reynolds 15. Mitch Garbutt 16. Luke Yates 17. Kade Ellis
Opposed Session
Roar Rookie
We get it pal! You’re not a league fan…… maybe you should just stick to commenting on your origami page.
The Alchemist
Guest
Walter the Olympics is a respected International tournament followed in more than 3 countries. The RL "World" Cup isn't
KCR
Roar Rookie
Putting my own bias up front I prefer representative football to the NRL, but I do understand why Australia and NZ have taken the step of not sending players. Player welfare is important. What I don't understand is why they have removed the teams from the competition entirely. They would certainly be able to make competitive teams from the players already based in Europe and the UK. I don't think that this would harm the competition, in fact I think that it would make it more unpredictable and competitive. Seeing some older faces in the international jersey could actually be something worth watching more than say a series of beltings and a finals game. I get why the NRL players won't travel but if they're already there let them play.
At work
Roar Rookie
Poor decision IMO, just goes to show the ARL only care about the NRL and don't give a stuff about international RL.
FunBus
Roar Rookie
Knighted? The national origami champion has a higher profile in England than the rugby league team.
Opposed Session
Roar Rookie
No the whole country. They would then win it fairly easily and all the team would probably get knighted.
Chris Love
Roar Guru
That will all still come, just a year later than planned.
FunBus
Roar Rookie
'England might like those odds and push ahead.' England? Oh, you mean the two villages in England that actually take an interest in the game.
CPM
Roar Rookie
Really, what a surprise. I didn’t even know that league had a World Cup. I mean it’s the GB team, the French team, and the two down under teams where the game is played professionally.
Nico
Roar Rookie
The situation is unfortunately exacerbated by the NRL's lack of effort to add any international fixtures this year's calendar. A mid-year international weekend would have at least given Tonga, Fiji and Samoa a chance to continue their growth from the last couple of seasons, if we postpone now until '22 we go 3 years without an international fixture being played and perhaps squander another opportunity to grow the game on an international level
Walter Black
Guest
So, its ok to go to the Olympics but not to go to the RL World Cup ?
woodart
Guest
not quite true. aussie rules is another sport that is inward looking. they have an excuse for a lack of international potential. league does not. 100 yrs of club before country has just about phucked league. nearly dead here in NZ. provincial league is on life support. used to have tests and international games at my local ground(palmeston north)in the nineties. interest in the game was high. endless unneccessary club games intersperced with who-cares state of insomnia games will never make up for no international games. nrl has done league no favours, growth wise. pretty much every nrl team plays a homogenised game, no variety.
jim
Guest
Wonder what the payback is going to be? Brisbane 2032 becomes a huge target now esp if the chinese decide to boycott as well. Doesn't look good when you compare what the Poms are doing with vaccinations to the rubbish that has gone on here. Looks like the powers that be are playing politics for some unknown gain.
Dave
Guest
Totally different scenarios but ok
Nico
Roar Rookie
Yeah if there was anything near the amount the NRL would lose by canning Origin you'd have to think it'd be a different story. I would've liked to see the players be able to decide for themselves on this. Even if some pulled out so be it but it wouldn't necessarily be a total washout - Australia sent over a significantly weakened side for the '95 edition and there were still 66 thousand plus at Wembley for the final
The alchemist
Guest
Yes Big Mig. You see the English love football not necessarily Rugby League because it's just about dead and buried there. Rugby League is simply the only sport in the world that can't grow
KFar
Guest
Maybe there might be a 3 match series, Kiwis v Kangaroos?