The NSW Rugby League has welcomed the NSW Government’s easing of some restrictions around community sport today that will allow more than one parent to attend grand finals across the state this weekend.

However the NSW Government’s Public Health Order, restricting capacity to 500 people at a venue, still remains and COVID-19 Safety Plans must be strictly enforced.

The updated advice announced today for community sport, effective from Saturday 26 September, includes:

·        More than one parent may now attend community sporting activities if physical distancing of at least 1.5m can be maintained between people that are not from the same household.

·        Interregional community sporting competitions may recommence without restricting these activities to regions or zones, where there is a COVID-19 Safety Plan for the school or community sport activity in place.

·        School and community sports organisations and participants should continue to avoid shared travel arrangements such as carpooling, and to minimise gatherings before and after the event.

·        Ensure strict compliance with all other elements of the COVID-19 Safety Plan and the Public Health Order which is still in place. 

The NSW Government’s Chief Health officer Dr Kerry Chant and the Office of Sport today both thanked community sports for their “considerable support” in helping to manage the risks of COVID-19 transmission by implementing additional recommendations over the past six weeks.

They also cautioned against complacency with regards to transmission of the virus, in spite of the new conditions imposed today. 

NSWRL Chief Executive David Trodden also thanked Rugby League participants, staff, officials and volunteers for the role they have played in keeping community sport alive by adhering to the NSW Government’s guidelines as they have continued to be updated in a fluid and unpredictable environment. 

“We have always placed the utmost importance on the health and safety of our stakeholders and have emphasised compliance with the Public Health Orders and advice of the NSW Government so as to play our part in limiting the possible spread of coronavirus across the state,” he said.

“The fact we have managed to run competitions for more than 70,000 participants across metropolitan and regional New South Wales for the past 10 weeks is a credit to everyone involved.

“We welcome today’s announcement. What a great way to celebrate the end of a season that many thought would never happen. We wish everyone involved in finals this weekend an enjoyable end to the season.”