Fragility of rugby league’s resumption underlined by Canterbury Bulldogs match delay

The Australian competition has been in operation for the last three weeks after successfully managing a return to play.

But Sunday’s game between Canterbury Bulldogs and champions Sydney Roosters was delayed until Monday after fears a player may have been exposed to Covid-19.

Bulldogs forward Aiden Tolman was the player in question after it emerged one of his children attends a school in the area where a staff member has tested positive for the virus.

Both his club and the NRL took swift action and Tolman did subsequently test negative meaning the delayed game could go ahead.

However, he will not play on Monday as he begins a quarantine period that could last up to 14 days.

As the sport here continues to prepare for its own resumption, with Super League hoping to restart in August, events in Sydney is an illustration of how fragile the situation remains but also how strict protocols can work efficiently.

Canterbury chief executive Andrew Hill concurred that it was the correct decision to postpone the game.

“Once we found out about Aiden’s situation we immediately informed the NRL,” he said.

“We’ve been working with them overnight which ultimately led to the decision to postpone until tomorrow, (Monday).

“This is an unprecedented situation, but we will make sure that we take all the necessary precautions required and get everyone within our bubble tested and cleared over the next 24 hours.”

Australian Rugby League chairman Peter V’landys said there had been “a very remote risk of infection within the Bulldogs squad” but to rule out any risk they took this action.

RLPA chief executive Clint Newton, the former Hull KR second-row, said: “The NRL and everyone involved acted swiftly and have taken the necessary precautions to adhere to the high standards we have established.

“We commend these actions and it demonstrates the level of care not only for our members and club staff, but the wider community.”