Not sure on the relevance really, even if the RLWC was going ahead, even with the inclusion of Australia & NZ, past history has shown we're still likely to see RLWC games being played in half empty stadiums

Unfortunately his comments seemed to have been grabbed by the media. Not the best choice of words for a man in such a position and unlikely to heal wounds.

Had to be said.

Let them know how they are perceived, outside their parochial bubble.

But it's like the owner of a corner shop slating Tesco - he might have a point, but Tesco is that big & dominant over its corner shop rival, that it can simply laugh it off and ignore them.

All this episode is showing is that in the grand scheme of RL things, British RL & international RL is small fry, compared to the NRL.

The Australian International Rugby League group have publicly stated (reported on the sports news) that the players want to go and play and are being held back by the NRL. I didn't think we would here that from them, but they a pressuring the NRL with that statement, especially with the other code coming over at roughly the same time.

I know it won’t happen because our sport is small fry nationally but this is where the government should step in and state that if the country is not deemed safe enough for the rugby league World Cup then all events involving Australian and New Zealand sportspersons and sports teams in this country can only continue with the absence of their mentioned countries.

If the RLWC goes ahead without Aus and NZ, it will be remembered like the Moscow Olympics, where all the top nations boycotted the games. The winners will be constantly reminded that they only won because the Aussies and Kiwis weren't here. Don't know what the answer is. but slipping it 12 months will clash with the Football World Cup and we all know who will get maximum television coverage if that happens.Either way it's a no win situation.

I thought that but there is only a one-week overlap.

You could bring the seasons (and therefore the WC) forward by a couple of weeks and try and capitalize on some national excitement.

Would seem like the most sensible solution right now.

Current infection rates (7 day average) New Zealand 7, Australia 115, England 41,779.
It would indeed be strange if the Rugby Union trips were to go ahead. But I do not think anyone should be called a coward for not wishing to stay in England for a month.

Nor me, hardly a response to bring about reconciliation between the RFL and the NRL etc.

The "coward" comment doesn't do any good for anyone. It was a cheap shot and not warranted. However, 4 minutes notice is a house move too that shows no respect at all.

Scary to see those figures and then to see both those country's massively disproportionate response to it. Not sure on New Zealand, but I can see from social media that parts of Australia are akin to North Korea right now.

As another poster has already said, you have to worry for them over the next few years if this is their continuing reaction to any small number of infections.

Basically, a lifetime of living under their bed awaits, so it seems.

and that would be potty