All Sydney clubs will remain under Level 3 Biosecurity Protocols until they arrive in Brisbane for Magic Round. The National Rugby League (NRL) today gave approval for all 16 clubs to return to Level 1 restrictions once they have arrived in Brisbane.
Clubs travelling to Brisbane will fly on commercial flights and must comply with public health orders which include wearing a mask in the terminal and on board the aircraft.
Players that have not been part of the Level 3 Protocols continuously since they were introduced last week will not be permitted to re-join the NRL squad whilst still under Level 3 Protocols.
Therefore, the request by the Parramatta Eels to have players who played NSW Cup matches last weekend to immediately re-join the squad has been denied.
Once a team has arrived in Brisbane, the applicable Protocol will revert to Level 1. Therefore, all NRL Clubs seeking to have additional players added to the squad in Brisbane for matches will need to comply with stringent biosecurity measures including immediately commencing observing Level 3 Protocols in isolation from the NRL squad and returning a negative Covid-19 test on the day of departure.
Players seeking to join the NRL squad in Brisbane are not permitted to attend training prior to departure to Brisbane.
The team lists this afternoon will act as the deadline for naming potential additional players to the NRL squad but does not guarantee approval for the players to join the squad unless the strict biosecurity conditions are met.
Approval will not be granted for any impacted players to train with the NRL squad or to travel to Brisbane until all conditions have been met including negative Covid-19 test results the day before the relevant game.
Protocols for clubs returning to Sydney will be determined later in the week.
The measures announced today are based on the advice of the game’s biosecurity experts to minimise any risk to the health and safety of players or the continuity of the competition.
