I wonder if there have been any contingencies planned with the increase in cases within the UK?

If the season had to be stopped for a few weeks, what would be the best way to re-schedule the fixtures? Cancel the 'loop' fixtures, so it is purely a Home & Away season? Cancel the Ashes tour so the season can extend?

Be interesting the next few weeks

Catalans are currently waiting to see if their game against Leeds can go ahead after the French government banned social gatherings of more than 1,000 people.
Played behind closed doors perhaps?

Perhaps - maybe passholders can be allowed to stream the games online so they don't miss out?

I find this quite odd

"Social gatherings of more than 1k people are banned"

"so can our match with an average attendance of 8k go ahead?"

"Er... no"

And in the middle of all this the governing body arrange unnecessary international travel to pull 16 numbers out of a bowl. You can't make this sh*t up.

That's what I was thinking - it would be a reasonable compromise.

Life carries on, the world keeps turning and someone will always find something to moan about.

There seems little doubt that, in a few weeks time we (in the UK) will be in the same or, in a very similar position.
Of course sporting events will become casualties of the situation. Maybe having to be played behind closed doors and maybe postponed.

Ultimately, if it's just for a few weeks, it may not be a disaster but, it all depends on just how long this thing rumbles on for.

Having said that, in the grand scheme of things, RL (or any other sport) isn't important.

Even when the worst is over and relative normality returns, there will be a whole load of stuff for people to deal with.

There’s a rumour on SS.com that it will be played at Headingley instead

Won’t be any issue at Belle Vue - we don’t have enough fans.

Catalans have three options, postpone the game and play at a later date (they don’t want this as they already have two postponed games to book in), play behind closed doors with a live stream of the game or move the game to UK at headingley as no events at headingley this weekend.

They also been given alternatives for their next home game v Toronto (to play as a double header with Warrington v Salford, or behind closed doors).

Being played behind closed doors https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/rugby-league/51820654

Being played behind closed doors https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/rugby-league/51820654

If and when similar sections hit in the UK there are many questions that will need answering...

What compensation for those paying for season passes
Reimburse away tickets/magic weekend tickets
Or if they delay matches....
Have to delay the end of the season as there simply won't be enough time to play them in the same time frame

Many sports will survive this but RL is hardly cash rich, and this could bring SL and more-so non-SL teams to their knees.

Having no crowds has been proven to affect performances as well which affects top end of the leagues but the bottom end even more.

It wouldn't suprise me if all of Rovers players get the virus, it'd go with our 20 injuries so far this season anyway.

Until then - carry on I suppose.

No compensation or reimbursements, any insuranceolicy would judge it as an act of god, or natural phenomena. in the grand scjeme of things iy's only a blumin RL game. IMHO the whole thing is out of proportion, how many died of underlying complications excacerbated by flu in the same period?

But it's New York they need to have some excuse to get them involved, next season it will be Las Vegas

[url=https://www.latimes.com/science/story/2020-03-05/flu-killed-more-people-coronavirus-covid-19?_amp=true&__twitter_impression=trueThe flu has killed far more people than coronavirus. So why all the frenzy about COVID-19?[/url

Is this the first SL game to be played behind closed doors?

Not another one. They can’t win. They do an announcement in Doncaster and it’s ‘cheap’ and ‘unprofessional’. They are also pillared for not doing enough to promote the sport. Now they decide to do the Challenge Cup draw in one of the biggest cities in the world which should get some decent media coverage and they are getting stick for that as well. I give up.

I’m carrying on as normal pretty much but the death rate is ten times higher than the flu so far and it seems very infectious so understand the concerns.

this not a world event it's the challenge cup for gawd sake played in England get real will you

There’s one at Huddersfield every couple of weeks !

It’s New York not Timbuktu, get a grip.

irony meter alert

Someone doesn’t understand irony. Are you one of our new American fans?

yes, I am completely new to RL, honest.

does your village know you are out?

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-51826317 New York might be in lock down soon

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-51826317 New York might be in lock down soon