NSWRL, QRL cancel statewide competitions amid coronavirus crisis
As the coronavirus continues to threaten the NRL, the NSWRL and QRL have made the difficult decision to cancel all major statewide competitions for the 2020 season.
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The NRL, New South Whales Rugby League (NSWRL) and Queensland Rugby League (QRL) have today announced the cancellation of a number of statewide competitions for 2020, including the Canterbury Cup and Intrust Super Premiership, as the coronavirus pandemic threatens the future of the game.
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The QRL has cancelled it’s four statewide competitions, while the NSWRL has scrapped nine major competitions for 2020.
In a statement released by the NRL, these decision were made as the uncertain and unprecedented nature of the COVID-19 pandemic made the scheduling of these fixtures untenable in 2020.
Both the NSWRL and QRL say the decision to cancel competitions was hard but necessary.
“It is devastating for everyone involved but the advice has changed dramatically since we suspended these competitions nine days ago, said NSWRL Chief Executive David Trodden.
“We have an obligation to be part of the solution for this pandemic, both for the Rugby League community and also for the community more generally”.
“We understand the outcome is a heartbreaking one for the rugby league community, but it’s a call that simply had to be made given the current circumstances, said QRL Managing Director Rob Moore.
“Rugby league is part of the fabric of Queensland, and as such, we have key responsibilities to the wider community as well”.
The cancelled competitions include:
National: Harvey Norman Women’s National Championship; National Schoolboys Championships; all Combined Affiliated States representative football
Queensland Rugby League: Intrust Super Cup; BHP Premiership; Hastings Deering Colts; Auswide Bank Mal Meninga Cup
New South Wales Rugby League: Canterbury Cup NSW; Jersey Flegg Cup (Under 20s); UNE SG Ball Cup (Under 18s); Laurie Daley Cup (Under 18s); Harvey Norman Tarsha Gale Cup (Under 18s women); UNE Harold Matthews Cup (Under 16s); Andrew Johns Cup (Under 16s); Women’s Country Championships and Men’s Under 23s Country Championships.
More to come