Defiant Kevin Sinfield insists Leeds Rhinos were right not to travel to Perpignan

Leeds were due to fly to Barcelona yesterday before a coach transfer to Perpignan for the Super League round seven meeting with Catalans Dragons, but there was a dramatic change of plan after a first-team player began showing symptoms of coronavirus.

Rhinos were last night awaiting the result of a private test on the individual, who was a member of their 21-man squad named to face Catalans.

The player trained with his team-mates earlier this week and if he tests positive Rhinos’ squad and staff will go into 
self-isolation, leaving next Friday’s visit of champions St Helens in doubt.

Against Catalans’ wishes, both Rhinos and the RFL agreed on Tuesday the game in the south of France should be played, but behind closed doors. Leeds’s subsequent choice not to travel was made without the governing body’s consent and the RFL board will decide whether the club should face a “sanction” for not fulfilling the fixture.

However, Sinfield insisted Rhinos have done the right thing, stating: “I absolutely stand by the club’s decision.”

Rhinos’ main concern was over spreading the illness to other passengers on the flight and around Perpignan, if the virus has taken hold in their camp.

“I think it was the right decision, made in some unprecedented times when some other sports are cancelling fixtures and a lot of clubs are isolating players and closing training grounds,” said Sinfield.

“We always wanted to play this game; that is why we pushed so hard on Tuesday for it to go ahead, but since Tuesday a lot of circumstances have changed.

“It is a shame and in hindsight we’d love to say the game should have been postponed on Tuesday, but none of us had a crystal ball or knew where we’d end up [yesterday].

“I am really disappointed the game won’t go ahead this weekend and that there’s a lot of fans haven’t been able to travel. And I am disappointed there’s a lot of fans already in France and Spain who were looking forward to a game, but I would like to assure every single one of them that this decision was made purely on putting our players and staff and the care of them at the heart of it.”

Other rugby league is due to go ahead this weekend, but with football in this country already having been put on hold until early next month and several major sporting events also wiped out, Sinfield believes the code is likely to go the same way.

“I think it probably depends on what happens over the next couple of days and how quickly this escalates and spreads,” he added.

“I think the pressure from other sports, as well, may change where we go and what we do.

“I do understand the finances behind it all and how difficult it would be for clubs who may lose revenue over this period, but I think my counter-argument would be what cost do you put on someone’s life?

“That is exactly the message from our club, we wanted to do the right thing for our players and staff.

“It will be interesting to see what happens over the next day or so, but we have seen a lot of dominoes fall with other sports and clubs making decisions and trying to put their athletes and clubs at the forefront of their care.”

Catalans faced a huge loss of revenue had the game been played without a crowd.

Sinfield said the French club backed Leeds’s option not to travel and revealed: “I spoke to [coach] Steve McNamara [on Thursday night] and he absolutely agreed with our stand on it.

“This is bigger than sport and a game of rugby and we have absolutely got to the right place. Two clubs have come together and made a smart decision.”

With Rhinos’ round two game at Huddersfield Giants being postponed last month due to Storm Ciara, they are now two games behind most of their rivals.

Today would have been a good time to play Catalans, whose inspirational full-back Sam Tomkins was due to begin a two-match ban.

Leeds are in impressive form and confident mood, but Agar stressed the safety of players, staff and the public has to take priority.

He said: “As much as we wanted to play the game, we had to take into account players’ welfare and supporters’ welfare and the whole uncertainty of a rapidly developing global crisis.

“I fully support the decision not to go due to the ramifications of passing through three countries, especially with the situation changing by the hour.”