Leeds Rhinos game in doubt after Wakefield Trinity players test positive for Covid-19

A decision will be made on Wednesday over whether Leeds Rhinos’ game against Wakefield at Emerald Headingley on Thursday can go ahead, after two Trinity players tested positive for Covid-19.
Wakefield Trinity coach Chris Chester, right. Picture by Jonathan Gawthorpe.Wakefield Trinity coach Chris Chester, right. Picture by Jonathan Gawthorpe.
Wakefield Trinity coach Chris Chester, right. Picture by Jonathan Gawthorpe.

Trinity are the third Betfred Super League team to be hit by the virus, after Hull and Catalans Dragons.

The news broke late last night following routine testing on Monday.

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This week’s derby had not been postpond last night, but both Hull and Catalans’ scheduled game following their positive test results was called off.

Catalans’ outbreak came after their Coral Challenge Cup win over Wakefield on August 22 and led to Trinity players Alex Walker and Jay Pitts having to isolate after being identified under the track and trace system.

Castleford Tigers were due for a bye last week, but stepped in at short notice as Wigan Warriors’ opponents after Catalans were stood down.

Ironically, Catalans have a bye in this week’s round 11.

Their scheduled game at home to Leeds next Monday has already been postponed.

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Two more Catalans players tested positive in last weekend’s testing, but there were no more confirmed cases on Monday.

Warrington Wolves, Trinity’s opponents last Sunday, are due to take on Hull on Friday.

A Rugby Football League statement confirmed: “Two Wakefield Trinity players have returned positive tests for Covid-19 in the club’s third set of tests in the last week.

“Wakefield have postponed a training session that was scheduled for Wednesday morning, when a decision will be made regarding their Betfred Super League fixture against Leeds Rhinos scheduled for Emerald Headingley on Thursday night.

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“Only one of the players who has tested positive was involved in Wakefield’s fixture against Warrington Wolves at the weekend.

“Neither were identified as at risk following test and trace analysis of the Coral Challenge Cup tie against Catalans Dragons on August 22 – after which three Catalans players (one of whom was not involved in the Wakefield game) and one member of their backroom staff tested positive for Covid-19.

“Since then the Dragons have had two further rounds of testing. In the second, one more player and another member of their backroom staff tested positive. In the third, the remaining 46 were negative.

“The Catalans’ scheduled fixture against Leeds Rhinos next Monday has been postponed, because of the 14-day isolation period that followed last week’s positive tests.

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Warrington Wolves have been informed of Wakefield’s positive tests, and test and trace analysis will now be carried out on Sunday’s game against Trinity to establish if any of the Wolves players will be required to stand down.”

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