Monday 16 March 2020 20:57, UK
The Super League has been suspended until April 3 due to coronavirus, the Rugby Football League (RFL) and Super League have confirmed.
Super League clubs met with the sport's governing body on Monday to discuss their coronavirus response.
A range of contingency plans were addressed with the RFL at their board meeting in Huddersfield, and the situation will be reviewed with broadcasters and sponsors throughout the initial suspension.
The suspension will also apply to the Championship, League 1, Betfred Women's Super League and the community game, the RFL confirmed in a statement.
The Super League's structure and fixture rescheduling will be considered by the RFL in the coming weeks.
Fixtures went ahead as scheduled over the weekend, in line with government guidelines at the time. On Monday, the UK government announced new guidelines, advising against all mass gatherings.
On Sunday, Toronto Wolfpack suspended training and stood down their entire UK-based squad after four players experienced symptoms of coronavirus. The four players have gone into self-isolation.
In a joint statement Robert Elstone, the Executive Chairman of Super League Europe, and Ralph Rimmer, CEO of Rugby Football League said: "These are unprecedented times, and they present significant financial and commercial implications for Rugby League, which will be further considered during the period of suspension.
"Super League is also an international competition, and consideration has to be given to our clubs in Canada and France, particularly around travel restrictions and scheduling fixtures.
"Player welfare and maintaining the integrity of the competition are key concerns moving forward. Equally our responsibilities to Rugby League communities remain front of mind for all of us.
"The whole country is facing major challenges - and the support of our fans, partners and stakeholders is needed now more than ever before."
Wigan Warriors are among the teams to offer statements in reaction to the suspension, echoing sentiments around the importance of protecting the public's health and safety.
Warriors' chairman and owner Ian Lenagan said: "At this time of great uncertainty across the world, our sport's number one priority has to be the safety and wellbeing of everyone within our communities.
"We were party to this decision and fully supportive (of) the measures decided.
"Whilst the postponement of a large number of fixtures across the competition will present a logistical challenge like we've never seen before, we trust that everyone connected to both Wigan Warriors and Betfred Super League will understand the reasoning behind this stance."
