The remainder of the rugby league 2021 Blumers Lawyers George Tooke Shield has been cancelled due to COVID-19 restrictions and lockdown in NSW and the ACT.
The Harden Hawks were sitting fourth on the ladder, when they were scheduled to have a bye in Round 14 on August 14 and face the Bungendore Tigers before the season end.
Canberra Region Rugby League (CRRL), in consultation with its senior member clubs, made decision the after the ACT government extended the current lockdown today.
Territory residents will now be in lockdown until at least the 17th of September. Further uncertainty surrounding the NSW regional lockdown, as cases remain high, weighted on the league also.
“Whilst the CRRL explored every avenue in an attempt to hold a finals series after the premature end to the regular season, there are still active cases in the community of the Delta variant and we all have a duty of care to our players, volunteers and staff to keep them safe,” said CRRL General Manager Mark Vergano.
“The CRRL and the clubs understand this will be of a great disappointment to all the senior players, however there is a social responsibility and a duty of care to ensure that all our great rugby league players and supporters are safe and supportive of the community’s and governments’ attempts, on both sides of the border, to lessen potential virus exposure for everyone.”
The window to complete the season by the end of September was lessening and with the challenges of cross border movement the CRRL and clubs believed this cancellation of the season was the most responsible decision.
The CRRL committee will make a decision on the competition outcomes shortly (i.e. premiership outcomes).
