Leeds Rhinos avoid punishment over no-show at Catalans Dragons

The Rugby Football League (RFL) have confirmed the match is to be rescheduled and - due to the “exceptional circumstances” of the Covid-19 pandemic - Rhinos will not be punished for failing to fulfil the fixture.

Rhinos had been due to play in Perpignan on Saturday, March 14, but declined to travel after on-loan forward Joe Greenwood showed possible symptoms of coronavirus.

Leeds, who were booked to fly to Barcelona for a coach transfer into France, informed the RFL two days before the game they would not be travelling.

The Betfred Super League clash was due to be played behind closed doors after the French government banned mass gatherings.

France’s lockdown began that weekend.

Other rugby league matches went ahead in this country but the sport was suspended on Monday, March 16 and there have been no games since.

At the time, RFL chief executive Ralph Rimmer warned Leeds could be facing a “sanction” from the sport’s board.

The RFL were keen to follow UK government advice and insistent they - rather than clubs - should decide if a game was to go ahead.

However, the governing body yesterday confirmed the matter has been dealt with.

A statement said: “The RFL board and compliance manager have respectively considered matters arising from Leeds Rhinos’ failure to fulfil the match.

“In accordance with the operational rules - and having considered all the circumstances which it was noted were truly exceptional - the RFL board has determined that the match should be replayed and the compliance manager has determined that no other disciplinary action should be taken.”

The statement added: “Leeds have been reminded - and have accepted - that the operational rules are in place to ensure the smooth operation and integrity of the professional rugby league competitions and that in more usual circumstances the failure to fulfil a fixture would have led to significant sanctions.”

Rhinos would not comment, but - though Greenwood later tested negative for the illness - have stood by their call not to make the journey.

In March, director of rugby Kevin Sinfield insisted “I think it was the right [decision], made in some unprecedented times when some other sports are cancelling fixtures and a lot of clubs are isolating players and closing training grounds.”

The RFL are next week set to consider plans drawn up by Super League clubs which would see the competition resume in August, with crowds allowed into stadiums from October 1.

A restart date of August 16 has been suggested, but games in hand - including Rhinos’ trips to Catalans and Huddersfield Giants - would be played in the two weeks before that.

It is not yet clear if Catalans - who are due to have two home fixtures against Leeds this season - will be allowed to play matches in their home country.

The government has announced a quarantine on people arriving in the UK from abroad, which would mean teams travelling to France having to isolate for two weeks after returning home.

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