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July 23, 2021

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Australia and NZ withdraw from World Cup

Source: Agencies | 00:12 UTC+8 July 23, 2021 | Print Edition

Defending champion Australia and New Zealand withdrew from the Rugby League World Cup in England yesterday, citing player welfare and safety concerns amid the COVID-19 pandemic in a massive blow for the sport’s global showpiece.

The Australian Rugby League Commission and New Zealand Rugby League said they had repeated a request to organizers to postpone the October 23-November 27 event until 2022 to “minimize risk of players contracting COVID-19.”

“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 (National Rugby League) players will spend away from home under strict biosecurity conditions prior to the World Cup,” they said in a joint statement.

Rugby Football League chairman Simon Johnson called the withdrawals “a selfish, parochial and cowardly decision.”

“Rugby League World Cup organizers have bent over backwards to offer every assurance to the Australians and the Kiwis,” Johnson told the BBC. “We are very unhappy with this decision and we are not prepared to take it lying down.”

World Cup organizers said they were informed about the withdrawals at “very short notice” and would continue discussions with stakeholders to agree on the best way forward.

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

COVID-19 infections are increasing in the UK with 47,114 new ones reported on average each day. The UK has recorded 5.5 million confirmed cases and 128,896 total deaths.

Australia is also battling outbreaks of COVID-19 albeit on a much smaller scale. Around 13 million people, or half the country’s population, are under strict lockdown.

Australia’s “Kangaroos” have dominated the World Cup, winning eight out of the last nine editions dating back to the 1970s. New Zealand, whose top players also compete in the NRL, won the 2008 World Cup hosted by Australia.

Australian and New Zealand media had reported that both nations had cold feet about sending teams to England.

Most NRL players are already living away from home, with the league moving teams to northern Queensland state to escape COVID-19 outbreaks and lockdowns further south.

“They would then be required to remain under (COVID) protocols and away from home for the duration of the tournament before again quarantining on return to Australia,” ARLC chairman Peter V’landys said. “This is too much to ask our players and officials to do.”

NZRL boss Greg Peters said the safety staff and players could not be guaranteed.

“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,” he said.

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