The average age of Covid deaths is 81 in the UK

You can't tell me fit young NRL players will be scared?

Funded by who, at 3 months notice?

This WC has lots of funding from UK/EU sponsors and the UK government

And it's not just playing the tournament that matters. As I already said the economic impact to regions in the UK is huge - not far off £9M for Manchester and Cardiff from the 2013 tournament I believe. Plus then there's the interest generated at grass roots which this country desperately needs if we are to even have another WC over here or dare I say it, professional RL.

No we don't we lose Australia and New Zealand. The decisions were made by the NZRL and ARLC (clearly off the back of pressure from NRL). Players representing other countries can play the NRL clubs have no legal right to stop them.

Again this is the problem. This thing is in circulation, there's nether really going to be 'good time' because there's always going to be plenty of cases, certainly for the foreseeable. So if they aren't coming now based on this logic, they're not going to be travelling for international tournaments for the medium-term future. It's setting a decision-making precedent.

What I suspect, as others have mentioned, is that 'safety and welfare' is really referring to players time off having to eat into the season due to quarantine on the way back, rather than covid.

Apparently lots of Australian players are looking at playing for other nations. Damian Cook and James Tedesco the most vocal, Tedesco talking of playing for italy under the heritage rule.

Rather than do that, surely we just need to find 20 Aussies and 20 Kiwis who are willing to put their hands up and travel. If they are, and are happy to abide by whatever regulations the NRL require for the season next year, surely we'd just put an 'Australian Invitational' and 'NZ Invitational' team in their place.

Ultimate two fingers up to the NRL!! It'd be very much like the 95 world cup where Aus weren't at full strength because of the SL war, but you'd still get a bloody good side. Would be exactly the same as when we played Tonga the year before last....they were 'Tonga Invitational' because the Tonga RFL Governing Board had been kicked out......no one noticed any difference!!

More than one way of skinning at cat.....The WC Board need to look at this option urgently IMO.

If you're late for pre-season training you'll be fined.....not to mention clauses in your contract barring you from Amy activity that may injure you causing your employer more expense.
Legal or not, the NRL clubs tell players where and when.....and I suspect very few will be flying north this autumn.

I am totally confused with the talk of players in the NRL playing in this tournament who represent the non ANZAC nations. The whole reason them two pulled out was safety concerns. If non ANZAC NRL players are allowed to play can someone please explain to me how Aus and NZ have any argument to have made this decision. How can you claim safety and player welfare when you are allowing everyone outside of the aus and NZ teams play in England and have no issue with them coming back home.

If this was to happen then RFL & Co have to seek legal action for sure. I don't see how you can argue that Tom Burgess who lives in Sydney can play but his teammate Damian Cook who also lives in Sydney can not.

They haven't actually explicitly said they can't play. They have only said Aus and NZ are pulling out. They don't have authority to speak for the Pacific nations but yes as I understand it the clubs now can refuse players permission to travel as the NRL have deemed it unsafe.

I'd be interested to know what player's contracts say about them being released for an international game, these happen mid NRL season so it must have come up before. If a player has it in their contract they can play for their country then how could the club stop them?

Then the club's need to come out now and address this and declare their position. I could see some legal action happening if non ANZAC players are told by any club they are not allowed to play.

INSURANCE........pretty simple really.
The NRL clubs cover their players' insurance, Rugby League Italy with a market value of 2 bob don't.....so Players can claim they want to......but who covers an ACL injury, or a career-ender?
The NRL clubs can and will stop their player taking part.

As for an invitational team like the tongan farce last time........no thanks. Hold the tournament, and if England win it then send them on a round the world exhibition tour as WORLD CHAMPIONS.......'Strayans would hate that. It'd make them more like the AFL......ie, a local sport than nobody else plays and that's why you think your're good....but you ain't

Surely there is enough Aussies and Kiwis playing SL and the Championship who could represent Australia and NZ ?

They would probably still kick our Backsides !

I dont think SL have done the WC any favours really by cancelling games and 'giving' games because of covid. The game over here is a Joke at the moment and we are living here double jabbed just waiting to catch the bloody virus, because thats the governments strategy !!

I see both sides to the story, but if the Economy is now taking priority (and I think it is), then the WC needs to go ahead. Its just a shame that everyone cant p*** in the same pot !!!

Again you’re completely wrong.

The only way NRL clubs can stop players representing their country is by underhand means. For example, putting pressure on them to declare themselves unfit - they would then have to prove it. This is why the players union are angry it’s put their members in the awkward position of possible conflict with their clubs.