https://www.loverugbyleague.com/post/co ... accinated/ This is interesting. France confirming players need to be vaccinated to play there. Paul Rowley saying the average club has 9-10 unvaccinated players..

https://www.loverugbyleague.com/post/co ... accinated/ This is interesting. France confirming players need to be vaccinated to play there. Paul Rowley saying the average club has 9-10 unvaccinated players..

Think that’s always been on the cards re France and seeing the news re Djokovic and France passing a ruling re vaccinations.
I’ll admit I’m surprised at the number Rowley is stating as an average so there a lot of team changing and issues for clubs when heading to France.
It would be interesting to know how accurate Rowleys figure is.

Also interesting to know the demographic of unvaccinated players across the game, such as age, 1st team regular or fringe player etc. is it a fairly even spread in numbers per team or some teams fairing better in regards to number of unvaccinated.

Certainly interesting who the sport & clubs handle the situation.

Indeed, and also Rowley's numbers don't stack up with the RFL saying 80% of players vaccinated.

Wonder if Rowley has based his figures on the number of unvaccinated players at Salford and made an assumption all other clubs must be similar?

As you say the RFL are saying 80% of players are vaccinated so Rowleys figure would indicate to roughly another 10% of players being unvaccinated which is a significant difference.

I guess we will find out soon enough when the league starts and the teams start announcing their squads for travelling to France.

Interesting, this. I was talking to a chap from Cas, last Friday, he said Radford’s going ballistic about the amount of players unvaccinated and specifically said he was concerned about being able to field a team in France. I treat it with a pinch of salt but this article seems to lend it credence.

Trueman and Richardson are out spoken on social media about their views on the vaccine. I just hope we've had a big take up.

Personally, I can't get my head around anyone not getting it.

According to BBC article Michael Carter at Wakey is concerned about the integrity of the competition regarding this, especially if restrictions get lifted later in the year and some clubs have to field weakened teams and others don't. Its a fair comment but the fault lies entirely with those who choose not to have it imo.
He confirms that Wakey have 6 who won't have it. 2 might relent if they can't play but 4 adamantly refuse to.
I cannot fathom this attitude at all.

I can certainly understand Carters concerns as to the integrity of the competition if restrictions are lifted in terms of the unvaccinated players then being able to play if other teams have had to field weaker teams due to restrictions etc. However this could be said to be down to each individual club in terms of their own policies regarding unvaccinated players. Its all a bit of a minefield and you have to wonder if clubs that have players that refuse can take steps in regards to this? I noticed recently Morrisons Supermarket are now only going to pay SSP for unvaccinated employees who take time off due to covid related illness so could clubs and the league unite on this matter and look at reducing unvaccinated players pay for any game missed due to covid and/or restrictions?

I know its an emotive issue as some may view it as personal choice which I agree it is but it doesn't mean you should be free from the consequences of your choice as many seem to think they should be entitled to be etc, I do think something needs to be put down to cover this situation/scenario.

I can see some clubs deciding not to sign or re-sign unvaccinated players in future. At my own club John Kear has said similar things https://www.examinerlive.co.uk/sport/ru ... d-22633147

I can see some clubs deciding not to sign or re-sign unvaccinated players in future. At my own club John Kear has said similar things https://www.examinerlive.co.uk/sport/ru ... d-22633147

If you become a potential liability then clubs will certainly think twice.

Catalans are 100% vaccinated, good luck to any clubs traveling there with weaker squads due to antivaxxers...

Thing is that to be fully vaccinated even if you were persuaded now you're a good few weeks off having both jabs aren't you (plus might need to evidence a booster at some point?)

I was wondering what they would do, even with the current French rules without that their players would have to quarantine every time they came back from the UK. They turned over quite a lot of their squad so they could have made it a deal breaker for their incoming players.

I think the only way to persuade vaccine reluctant players now is to hit them in the wallet because facts obviously have not worked up to now. If they can't train or play then they don't get paid or are on SSP like companies are starting to do.

I hope the few players we have signed we have made it stipulation.

Problems at Toulouse. One player set to leave and four others could follow due to reluctance to get vaccinated according to Yorkshire Live News.

Mad!

As someone else said previously, if a player gets an injury they don’t hesitate for their club to provide physio to get them fit again. Yet some players are happy to take Covid advice from a stranger’s comments on social media and risk their club being unable to field a full strength team, yet still get paid.

Matt Shaw and Aaron Bower did a Q&A video on Facebook this week.

The subject of vaccines cropped up. Shaw said an unnamed player, who isn't vaccinated missed 50 days (made up of training and maches) due to track and trace.

If that's true, which I can believe, clubs just won't sign unvaccinated players.

It's going to get messy and likely cause friction between players. I just hope all or the vast majority of our squad are fully vaxxed.

So far then

Catalans and Wire 100% vaccinated, Wakefield and Toulouse both average i.e. 5or 6 unvaccinated from 30+ squads, that leaves the remaining 8 some of whom will have better than 80% I would presume and some could be in a a vulnerable position on numbers and possible restrictions.

Got to agree with you there RWAB as you say with Catalans & Wire being 100% vaccinated then either some clubs (if the figures of vaccinated players are to believed) are even more up against it in terms of still having a higher number of unvaccinated players in their squads or its a higher average of unvaccinated players across the rest of the clubs which is a little concerning.

Wigan have announced just 1 unvaccinated player, so the other 9 clubs have roughly 2 extra players above the 12 team average.