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Impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on rugby league

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The COVID-19 pandemic had a major impact on the sport of rugby league in both the northern and southern hemispheres with the two major league competitions suspended for periods and numerous other leagues and cup competitions cancelled or abandoned.

Australia and New Zealand

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NRL

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Main article: 2020 NRL season

The World Health Organization declared the global pandemic on 11 March, the day before the 2020 NRL season was scheduled to start. The first round of games went ahead as scheduled but the pandemic restrictions already had an effect as attendances were lower than anticipated. Between rounds 1 and 2 the New Zealand Government introduced quarantine restrictions which would have meant the New Zealand Warriors having to go into a 14-day quarantine period had they returned home after their round 1 match. Instead the Warriors decide to relocate to Kingscliff, New South Wales and play their round 2 game at the Gold Coast Titans' Cbus Super Stadium instead of their home ground in Auckland.[1] The Warriors will also base themselves in New South Wales for the first three months of 2021.[2]

Rules introduced by the Australian Government limiting gatherings meant that round 2 games were played in empty stadia and on 23 March after round 2 the National Rugby League (NRL) suspended the season.[3] The Australian government allowed the NRL to restart the competition at the end of May with games initially being played behind closed doors at a limited number of venues but later limited crowds were allowed,[4][5] culminating with over 37,000 being allowed in to watch the Grand Final.[6] With strict bio-security rules introduced in Australia and with the travel restrictions imposed by the New Zealand government the New Zealand Warriors had to base themselves in Australia for the rest of the season.[1] Melbourne Storm were also affected by the COVID-19 situation in Victoria and chose to relocate to the Sunshine Coast, Queensland for the remainder of the season.[7]

The NRL introduced rule changes for player welfare, the most significant being the introduction of the six again or six-to-go rule for infringements at the ruck by defending teams instead of penalties being awarded. The number of referees per game was reduced from two to one.[8]

The length of the regular season was adjusted to 20 games and the J. J. Giltinan Shield was won by Penrith Panthers.[9] The Panthers reached the Grand Final but were defeated in the final by Melbourne Storm.[10]

State of Origin

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Main article: 2020 State of Origin series

The State of Origin series had to be moved from its traditional mid-season slot to November. Queensland won the series 2–1.[11][12]

Women's rugby league

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The Women's Premiership took place as scheduled with Brisbane Broncos winning the Grand Final.[13] The State of Origin game was delayed until November and saw Queensland beat New South Wales 24–18.[14]

France

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On 13 March 2020, the FFR announced the postponement of all rugby league in the country including the major competitions such as the Elite One Championship, Elite Two Championship, and Lord Derby Cup. Exactly a month later on 13 April, the FFR declared these competitions null and void, with no titles to be awarded.[15] The 2020–21 competitions would go ahead behind closed doors.

United Kingdom

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Super League

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2020 season

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Main article: Super League XXV

The 2020 Super League had already started when the global pandemic was declared with the first six rounds of the competition complete. The first effects were seen in round 7 when Leeds Rhinos refused to travel to Catalans Dragons for a game scheduled for 13 March as one of the Leeds players was displaying symptoms of COVID-19. Three days later the Rugby Football League (RFL) suspended all competition at all levels.[16] The RFL suspension was only planned to last for three weeks with 2 April marked as the date for a return to playing, in the end it was 2 August before the Super League competition resumed.[17] In the interim period Toronto Wolfpack withdrew from the league citing financial pressures.[18] An application to be reinstated into Super League by Toronto was declined leading to a post-season process to decide a 12th Super League club for 2021.[19]

When the season did resume, it was a limited number of grounds and all games were played behind closed doors.[20] The only exception to the latter were three home games played by Catalans in Perpignan where French government COVID-19 regulations allowed crowds up to 5,000 to attend.[21] The time lost and Toronto's withdrawal led to two other significant changes to the season format. Firstly the number of rounds of games was reduced from the planned 29 to 22 and eventually to 20.[22] Secondly league position was decided by win percentage (number of wins divided by number of games played), a format not seen in British rugby league since the 1944–45 Wartime Emergency League.[23]

Fixtures were often postponed and re-arranged at short notice due to the numbers of players and coaching staff testing positive for COVID-19 with teams playing several games at short-notice and/or in a short space of time.[24] When it became apparent that no team was going to fulfil all its fixtures, exemplified by Hull Kingston Rovers announcement at the beginning of November that they would be unable to fulfil their remaining games, the clubs and the RFL agreed to end the season after round 20 and move to the play-offs.[25]

Having played 17 games and won 13, Wigan Warriors won the League Leaders Shield.[26] In the play-offs they and close rivals St Helens reached the Grand Final played at the KCOM Stadium, Hull, instead of the regular venue at Old Trafford due to concerns from Manchester United about the event likely needing to be rescheduled, which they could not accommodate.[27] The Grand Final saw St Helens triumphed 8–4 with a try scored after the final hooter had sounded.[28]

The RFL adopted the six-again rule introduced by the NRL and took the additional step of abolishing scrums. Scrums were replaced by a handover of possession and a new set of six tackles.[29]

2021 season

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Main article: Super League XXVI

The 2021 Super League season, which ordinarily would have started in late January, was delayed until March with the hope that the combination of a second full lockdown announced by the UK Government in early January, and start of the UK's COVID-19 vaccination programme would allow for a safer state of play when the league eventually returns.[30] On 11 February it was confirmed that match week one would commence on Friday 26 March, with all fixtures continuing to be played behind closed doors.[31]

Championship and League 1

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2020 season

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Main articles: 2020 RFL Championship and 2020 RFL League 1

Five rounds of the Championship competition and two rounds of the League 1 competition had been played by 16 March. After consultation with the clubs, both competitions were abandoned and declared null and void in July.[32]

2021 season

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Main articles: 2021 RFL Championship and 2021 RFL League 1

For the 2021 competitions, the RFL announced that as a precaution against continued COVID-19 disruption both league tables will be based on win percentage.[33]

Challenge Cup and 1895 Cup

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2020 season

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Main article: 2020 Challenge Cup

The Challenge Cup competition had completed the first five rounds before the suspension of the sport in March. In July the clubs met with the RFL and all the non-Super League teams remaining in the competition withdrew.[34] The RFL therefore remade the draw for the sixth and subsequent rounds to only include the 11 remaining Super League sides.[34] The final, which should have been played in July, was eventually played at an empty Wembley Stadium on 17 October and saw Leeds Rhinos beat Salford Red Devils 17–16.[35]

The 1895 Cup, the cup competition solely for the Championship and League 1 clubs, was cancelled.

2021 season

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Main articles: 2021 Challenge Cup and 2021 RFL 1895 Cup

For the 2021 competition, amateur clubs were excluded from the competition in an attempt to make the competition more COVID-19 secure.[36] In addition, due to numerical reasons, only three out of eleven League 1 could participate. Barrow Raiders, Keighley Cougars, and West Wales Raiders would be those teams competing.[37] As a result of the reduced number of teams, the 2021 edition would be six rounds rather than nine.

Due to non-league team not competing in the tournament, the first two rounds of the competition were made concurrent with the 1895 Cup in an attempt to ease the fixture list. As a result of this, the winners of round 2 of the Challenge Cup would qualify for the semi-finals of the 1985 cup, as well as the last 16 of the Challenge Cup - the stage Super League teams enter.

The 2021 Challenge Cup Final was played in front of 40,000 fans, just short of half the capacity Wembley Stadium, as a government large crowd pilot scheme (10,000 fans being the then legal limit outside of pilot schemes).

Women's rugby league

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All 2020 league competitions were cancelled before any games had been played and the 2020 Challenge Cup competition was abandoned after a single game in the first round had been played.[38]

Amateur rugby

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The 2020 National Conference League season was postponed and later cancelled after two matchweeks.[39][40][41]

International rugby league

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2021 World Cup

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Main article: 2021 Rugby League World Cup

The pandemic forced the organisers of the World Cup to develop contingency plans to defer the tournaments to 2022 should it become necessary to postpone in 2021.[42] In July 2021, Australia and New Zealand pulled due to the pandemic aimed concerns around the emergence of the Delta variant in the tournament's hosts country England. Specifically, Australia at the time also had rising COVID-19 cases and a relatively small proportion of the population vaccinated. In contrast, New Zealand was virtually covid free and feared reintroduction following the return of players and fans.[43][44] On 5 August, the tournament was officially postponed to 2022 due to the withdrawal of Australia and New Zealand.[45][46]

Continental Tournaments

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Europe

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Main articles: 2020 Rugby League European Championship, 2021 Rugby League European Championship B, 2022 Rugby League European Championship C, and 2021 Rugby League European Championship D

Euro A was cancelled due to the teams playing in the tournament playing in the delayed World Cup instead. Euro B and D was postponed to 2021, and Euro C postponed to 2022.[47]

Oceania

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The Oceania Cup was cancelled.[48]

Middle East and Africa

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The Middle East-Africa Championship was cancelled.[49]

Americas

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The Americas Championship was cancelled.[50]

Tours

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The planned tour to Great Britain by Australia scheduled for October and November 2020, including the revival of The Ashes, was cancelled.[51]

Nines

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The 2023 Rugby League World Cup 9s was cancelled.[52]

References

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  1. ^ a b "How 2020 sacrifices helped bring stars into Warriors' orbit". National Rugby League. 20 December 2020. Retrieved 2 January 2021.
  2. ^ "New Zealand Warriors". National Rugby League. 4 December 2020. Retrieved 2 January 2021.
  3. ^ "NRL plunged into 'financial crisis' as season is suspended in response to COVID-19". The Guardian. 23 March 2020. Retrieved 2 January 2021.
  4. ^ "What the restructured NRL season will look like with 28 May restart date". The Guardian. Australian Associated Press. 28 April 2020. Retrieved 2 January 2021.
  5. ^ Proszenko, Adrian (5 June 2020). "Government gives NRL permission for fans to attend matches from next week". The Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 2 January 2021.
  6. ^ "NRL Results & Crowds | Austadiums". www.austadiums.com. Retrieved 2 January 2021.
  7. ^ Chammas, Michael (25 October 2020). "How much it cost the NRL to keep the Storm alive". The Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 2 January 2021.
  8. ^ Keoghan, Sarah (4 June 2020). "How controversial new rules have changed the way the game is played". The Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 2 January 2021.
  9. ^ "Abdo presents Panthers with J.J. Giltinan Shield". NRL. 26 September 2020. Retrieved 2 January 2021.
  10. ^ "Melbourne Storm hold off late Penrith charge in grand final to claim fourth NRL premiership". The Guardian. 25 October 2020. Retrieved 2 January 2021.
  11. ^ "V'landys: Origin set for mid-year return as NRL gets 'back to normal'". National Rugby League. 10 November 2020. Retrieved 2 January 2021.
  12. ^ Howcroft, Jonathan (18 November 2020). "State of Origin 2020 game 3: Qld Maroons beat NSW Blues – as it happened". The Guardian. Retrieved 2 January 2021.
  13. ^ "Three-peat complete: Brilliant Broncos kick clear of plucky Roosters". National Rugby League. 25 October 2020. Retrieved 2 January 2021.
  14. ^ Maurice, Megan (13 November 2020). "Women's State of Origin 2020: Maroons defy the odds and the wind to beat the Blues". The Guardian. Retrieved 2 January 2021.
  15. ^ Xiii, Ffr (14 April 2020). "Communiqué officiel : fin de la saison sportive 2019/2020". Retrieved 11 February 2021.
  16. ^ Gordon, James (16 March 2020). "Rugby league suspended due to coronavirus pandemic". Love Rugby League. Retrieved 2 January 2021.
  17. ^ "Super League confirms August 2 restart date". The Telegraph. 26 June 2020. Archived from the original on 12 January 2022. Retrieved 2 January 2021.
  18. ^ "No relegation from Super League in 2020". BBC Sport. 20 July 2020. Retrieved 2 January 2021.
  19. ^ Heppenstall, Ross (2 November 2020). "Toronto Wolfpack expelled from Super League, placing existence of club under threat". The Telegraph. Archived from the original on 12 January 2022. Retrieved 2 January 2021.
  20. ^ "Super League confirms return date". The Independent. 26 June 2020. Retrieved 2 January 2021.
  21. ^ "Weekend Super League and Challenge Cup talking points". Sky Sports. 12 September 2020. Retrieved 2 January 2021.
  22. ^ Jackson, William (16 July 2020). "Every Super League fixture round by round for the shortened 2020 season". Hull Daily Mail. Retrieved 2 January 2021.
  23. ^ Shaw, Matthew (9 September 2020). "Super League table to be determined by win percentage, not league points". TotalRL. Retrieved 2 January 2021.
  24. ^ Butcher, Tim & Spencer, Daniel, eds. (14 October 2023). Rugby League Yearbook 2020-2021. League Publications. p. 9. ISBN 978-19013-4739-5.
  25. ^ "Super League play-offs brought forward". BBC Sport. 3 November 2020. Retrieved 2 January 2021.
  26. ^ Gordon, James (7 November 2020). "Watch: Wigan lift the 2020 Super League Leaders' Shield". Love Rugby League. Retrieved 2 January 2021.
  27. ^ Darbyshire, Drew (22 October 2020). "Super League Grand Final to take place at Hull's KCOM Stadium". Love Rugby League. Retrieved 22 October 2020.
  28. ^ Bower, Aaron (27 November 2020). "Welsby's dramatic late try sinks Wigan and snatches Grand Final for St Helens". The Guardian. Retrieved 2 January 2021.
  29. ^ "2020 Law Changes". www.rugby-league.com. RFL. 10 June 2020. Retrieved 2 January 2021.
  30. ^ "Super League 2021 season set for delayed start and likely format reshuffle". BBC Sport. 11 January 2021. Retrieved 11 February 2021.
  31. ^ "Super League 2021: Round 1 fixtures confirmed, all six matches live on Sky Sports". Sky Sports. Retrieved 11 February 2021.
  32. ^ "Championship and League One null and void". Serious About Rugby League. 20 July 2020. Retrieved 2 January 2021.
  33. ^ "Betfred Championship scheduled for February return". www.rugby-league.com. RFL. 23 December 2020. Retrieved 2 January 2021.
  34. ^ a b "Rugby League Challenge Cup: Sixth round to be redrawn". Sky Sports. 28 July 2020. Retrieved 2 January 2021.
  35. ^ "Leeds beat Salford to win Challenge Cup". BBC Sport. 17 October 2020. Retrieved 2 January 2021.
  36. ^ "RFL outlines 2021 Challenge Cup format". BBC Sport. Retrieved 11 February 2021.
  37. ^ "Championship and League 1 clubs target March 21 return date". Love Rugby League. 22 January 2021. Retrieved 11 February 2021.
  38. ^ "Covid-19 forces cancellation of Women's Competitions in 2020". www.rugby-league.com. RFL. 27 August 2020. Retrieved 2 January 2021.
  39. ^ "National Conference League suspended for 2020 | Yorkshire Evening Post".
  40. ^ "More hints of July return for Saints as 2020 National Conference League is scrapped". St Helens Star. 27 April 2020.
  41. ^ "National Conference League suspends 2020 season | Wakefield Express".
  42. ^ "Rugby League World Cup organisers upbeat on 2021 ticket sales despite coronavirus concerns". Sky Sports. 20 August 2020. Retrieved 2 January 2021.
  43. ^ "ARLC & NZRL joint Rugby League World Cup statement". NRL Media. 22 July 2021. Retrieved 22 July 2021.
  44. ^ "Rugby League World Cup: Australia and New Zealand pull out of tournament". BBC Sport. 22 July 2021. Retrieved 22 July 2021.
  45. ^ "Rugby League World Cup: 2021 tournament postponed until 2022". Sky Sports. Retrieved 5 August 2021.
  46. ^ "Rugby League World Cup postponed until 2022". BBC Sport. Retrieved 5 August 2021.
  47. ^ Gordon, James (10 July 2020). "2020 European Championships cancelled by RLEF". Love Rugby League. Retrieved 2 January 2021.
  48. ^ "Oceania Cup cancelled for 2020 due to COVID-19 restrictions". www.insidethegames.biz. 6 September 2020. Retrieved 2 January 2021.
  49. ^ "2020 MEA Rugby League Championship postponed". www.rlef.eu.com. RLEF. 18 June 2020. Retrieved 2 January 2021.
  50. ^ "2020 Americas Championship postponed". Love Rugby League. 12 June 2020. Retrieved 2 January 2021.
  51. ^ "Kangaroo tour cancelled but 2022 option being explored". National Rugby League. 1 June 2020. Retrieved 2 January 2021.
  52. ^ "Rugby League World Cup 9s". International Rugby League. Archived from the original on 21 November 2023. Retrieved 21 November 2023.
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