From the looks of it it seems to be more about protecting the NRL after reading a number of articles. As the players returning to Australia would need quarantine for 14 days which then eats in to their pre season.

So I’m not sure they are being completely honest think it’s more to do with issues once they return home rather than not being safe here or having their needs met. As one person says it’s because their demands haven’t been met, then another says the organisers did everything they could to meet their needs.

The sad fact is that Covid is here and isn’t going away soon and the only way the world can continue is to accept we can’t hide away from it indefinitely we have to learn to live with it and deal with it.

Without those 2 nations the World Cup has been devalued completely and needs to be postponed.

I think some folks need to be honest here the Aussies are sending a touring RU team here in the Autumn so what is the difference. Probably the fact that the 14 day quarantine back in Aus for returning players eats into their NRL pre-season.

It is particularly tragic for the Women's and Wheelchair game who would have got so much exposure with the blanket BBC coverage. That would have done wonders for their sport and lets face it a lot of those playing in those two competitions saw it as possibly their one and only chance to be spotlighted in such a way.

They could postpone it but next year with the World Cup at the end of the year and several other high profile sports events in the offing that is unlikely to happen because they wouldn't get the broadcasting fees or the levels of exposure we were to get this year. To cancel altogether when everything else is attempting to open up, would just once again show us as a tin pot game run by amateurs. What a mess.

Aussie cricket agree to tour Bangladesh !!.

However, some England cricket players talking about not going to Australia later this year for the Ashes as they won’t be allowed to have their families visit during the tour.

Common sense Chris but unfortunately for financial reasons i cant see them cancelling the competition.
How you can expect the public to pay money to watch such a diluted competition missing the Worlds two top nations.
They will now be scouting the world looking for two minor nations to make up the numbers.

WOW even without Covid they will pick something up there

Just scrap it.

Extend the SL season, Old Trafford is booked for 27th November, Anfield 13th so the Grand Final can still be played in a big stadium.

The players union down under along with a number of players seemingly are disappointed about the decision to pull out and state it’s a premature decision. Pity the likes of Vlandys & Peters whilst they may have concerns re covid can’t be honest as most who follow RL know the real reason is the NRL preseason will be affected due to the 14 day quarantine on their return which the organisers haw no say on. So covid must only affect league and not union or cricket.

Cancelled till 2022. Good job, because I don’t know anyone interested apart from the players. Time to extend the season and play the Grand Final in a November time slot.

Yeah add a month onto the season let teams get their home games in, we have Salford and Leigh which you would imagine is four points which is a massive difference in our season.

Yes and the Grand Final can still be played in a big stadium as we have Old Trafford / Anfield booked for late November.