Australia boycott Rugby League World Cup

The Australian Rugby League Commission has been lashed by the sport’s governing body and the British government for its decision.

Reigning champions Australia will not compete in this year’s Rugby League World Cup Picture: AFP

The rugby league World Cup is in tatters after the ARL Commission made the momentous decision to withdraw the Australian side from the tournament prompting one senior figure in English rugby league to describe the decision as “selfish, parochial and cowardly”.

In a letter addressed to key World Cup and International Rugby League officials – and obtained by The Australian – ARL Commission chair Peter V’landys made it clear the concerns were not only with the situation in England, but the worsening problems with Covid-19 in Australia.

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The entire competition has moved to Queensland and V’landys conceded in his letter – addressed to International Rugby League chair Troy Grant, World Cup chair Chris Brindley and chief executive Jon Dutton – that there was every chance they would stay there for the remainder of the year.

“Over the last two months the ARLC has requested assurances from the RLWC2021 organisers about the health and safety of persons travelling from Australia to participate in the tournament,” V’landys wrote.

“We have also requested that the tournament be postponed. However, despite our best efforts we have been unable to find a solution which addresses our concerns for the health and safety of the Australian teams.

“The ARLC has 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 participating in the RLWC in 2021.”

He added: “Over the last three weeks, the spread of Covid-19 in Australia has increased significantly. The majority of players have been required to spend at least 14 days in quarantine and may be required to live away from home, under strict biosecurity protocols for the remainder of the NRL season.”

Along with the ARL Commission, the New Zealand Rugby League also confirmed they had withdrawn from the tournament and urged World Cup officials to delay the event until next year.

In a joint statement, trans-Tasman powerbrokers said that their priority was to protect the bests interests of their players and officials.

“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,” V’landys said.

“Protecting them is our absolute priority. 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.”

Grant released a statement on Thursday night suggesting he had been in contact with a number of players and coaches who were satisfied with the World Cup’s biosecurity arrangements and expressed a clear determination to travel to England and proudly represent their nations.

“They have expressed to me that they feel their own personal choice to participate or not in the World Cup has been taken from them,” Grant said.

“The withdrawal of the Australian teams has also seen the New Zealand teams withdraw and this may significantly compromise the tournament.

“The next week will be critical but despite whatever happens my job as IRL Chair is to pick up the pieces of international rugby league’s tarnished reputation as a result of these decisions when quite clearly other sports have demonstrated their ability to run events during the pandemic, both in England and in other countries with equal challenges from the pandemic, including Australian and New Zealand representation.

“The obvious question being asked of us is why rugby league players are not able to make the same sacrifices as players from other sports? Sadly, players are telling me they haven’t had the opportunity to make that decision for themselves.”

The chair of the Rugby Football League Simon Johnson was on BBC Radio in England on Thursday night where he described the decision as “selfish, parochial and cowardly”.

British minister for Tourism, Sport and Commonwealth Games Nigel Huddleston said: “Extremely surprising and disappointing decision from the ARLC and NZRL. We’ve met all requests made and shown that elite sports players can be kept safe. We will work with the RLWC team to seek clarity on what new assurances were requested, if any, before this press release was issued unexpectedly today. Their decision risks depriving the world – including Australian and New Zealand rugby (league) fans – of a superb spectacle of sport.”

World Cup organisers were more circumspect, releasing a short statement in which they spoke of their disappointment with the decision. They also said the boycott by Australia and New Zealand would have significant ramifications for the sport at an international level.

World Cup organisers received a £25m ($47.5m) grant from the English government to ensure the tournament went ahead and there are genuine concerns that the money may need to be repaid, which would leave the international body on its knees.

“RLWC2021 note the disappointing statement made by the ARLC and NZRL which may have wide ranging implications for international Rugby League,” RLWC2021 organisers said.

“RLWC2021 were informed at very short notice and will continue discussions with all stakeholders to agree on the best way forward. A further statement will be made in due course.”

While the decision will have significant and potentially damaging repercussions for the international game, the news was greeted with relief in clubland.

The issue has been simmering for weeks, NRL clubs making their stance clear during numerous conversations with the game’s powerbrokers.

There was an overwhelming sense on Thursday in clubland that common sense had prevailed. Club officials no doubt still harbour concerns – while England and New Zealand have withdrawn, the clubs still supply players to the likes of Tonga, Samoa and Fiji.

The Tongan side alone boasts the likes of North Queensland powerhouse Jason Taumalolo while Samoa would expect to field Penrith five-eighth Jarome Luai and Canberra prop Josh Papalii.