When sporting world stops, rugby league plays on - Dave Craven

That is part of the bigger problem; not many people know too much about it at all and, hence, it has grown into a pandemic.

It is times like this where you have to rely on the few experts there are, knowing they are going about their work as diligently and swiftly as possible, while being supported by so many others in the medical profession each doing their own bit.

But how does it affect rugby league?

As I write this – and it may make no sense whatsoever in the morning** – everything is still good to go in the sport.

While everything else seems to have been cancelled, postponed or suspended in the sporting calendar – from the Premier League to Formula 1, Six Nations to the London Marathon, The Masters to Test cricket – rugby league is carrying on regardless.

Granted, they are not entirely alone; the World Snooker Championship is set to go ahead next month and most Championship rugby union fixtures, including Yorkshire Carnegie and Doncaster Knights, remain scheduled to take place today.

Admittedly, rugby league has a history of being bold and innovative but is this just bold and insane?

The argument of the RFL and Super League is that they are simply following Government directives regarding the spread of Covid-19.

For their part, the Government has said there is no medical rationale for restricting large public events such as sports fixtures and so the RFL has pressed on with this weekend’s fixtures.

Leeds Rhinos, though, have taken it upon themselves not to travel to France for today’s game against Catalans Dragons which was already due to be played behind closed doors due to a French directive.

A Rhinos player is in self-isolation after displaying possible symptoms of coronavirus and, therefore, it is completely understandable that the club opted against boarding their flight to Barcelona yesterday to begin their journey for the game.

The RFL made a brief statement in response which suggests Leeds could be hit with a penalty for failing to fulfil the fixture; the sport’s governing body has made some gaffes in its time but if that ever played out it would be its biggest yet.

Hopefully common sense will prevail in that regard.

Nevertheless, unfortunately, it is surely only a matter of time before the sport’s hand is forced and someone does contract the virus which would cause the obvious knock-on effects.

What will happen then?

I tend to agree with the view of Castleford Tigers coach Daryl Powell who said earlier this week that playing behind closed doors could be financially crippling for many clubs who would struggle to survive.

The sport is not cash-rich. Far from it.

The loss of gate receipts, bar revenues, hospitality and such like if forced to play in front of empty stadiums could leave lasting damage, not to mention the effect it would have on employees.

Clearly, keeping people healthy and preventing the spread of the virus is paramount.

With that in mind, if – when – a solution needs to be found, suspending the season temporarily would likely be the least catastrophic outcome.

The Premier League and the EFL have suspended their fixtures until April 3 at least, a period of three weeks.

If that happened in rugby league – here and in the NRL – 
it could have one positive 
impact.

With the season extended, playing on into mid-November, maybe the England v Australia Ashes series here could see the return of midweek games against club sides after all...

A little far-fetched perhaps but something to ponder when rugby league does eventually get hit by Covid-19.

Until then, we just have to wait and see. And keep washing those hands.

(*Yes, yes, I know I know very little about rugby league, too.)

(** Yes, yes, this could be a weekly thing, as well)