Leeds Rhinos stand down seven players due to Covid concerns
Friday 11 September 2020 23:08, UK
Leeds Rhinos stood down seven players ahead of Friday's Betfred Super League victory over Huddersfield due to coronavirus concerns.
One member of the Rhinos squad is awaiting the results of an antigen test after a family member displayed Covid-19 symptoms.
As a part of the track and trace protocol, six additional members of the squad who had been in close contact with that player earlier this week did not train on Thursday and were stood down for Friday's game as a precaution.
Leeds said via a statement shortly before kick-off against the Giants: "The entire squad and backroom team were tested on Tuesday afternoon and all tests produced negative results, including the player who is now awaiting his test result. The team did not train on Wednesday.
"[Friday]'s game will go ahead as planned with Brett Ferres, Adam Cuthbertson and Alex Sutcliffe drafted into the squad. Ferres will wear the squad number 40."
The Rhinos beat the Giants 13-12, with Luke Gale once again kicking a drop goal to win the match, just as he did against the same opposition last month in a 27-26 win.
The Rhinos lie fifth in the revised Super League table after the RFL announced the 2020 regular season's final standings will be determined by points percentage.
The move acknowledges the real possibility that not all clubs will be able to play the same number of matches before the end of the season due to the effects of the coronavirus pandemic.
