French rules would see three Saints miss Toulouse and Catalans away

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josie andrews
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French rules would see three Saints miss Toulouse and Catalans away

Post by josie andrews »

UNLESS the rules change beforehand, Saints will be without their three unvaccinated players when they travel for this year’s three Super League games in France.

Rules brought in by the French government insisting that all players need to be vaccinated in order to enter sports facilities in the country will lead to a number of players across the Super League having to sit out away games against both Catalans and Toulouse.

Saints have Super League new boys Toulouse twice, with the first trip to Stade Albert Wallon in Round Six on 19 March, followed by a second away clash in Toulouse on Saturday, 4 June.

A month later they travel to Perpignan to face Catalans Dragons.

A number of clubs – especially those with a lower vaccination rate than Saints – have expressed their concern.

Woolf accepts the rules are going to cause disruption, but says the advance notice and relatively small number of non-jabbed players means they can plot a way around it.

A month later they travel to Perpignan to face Catalans Dragons.

A number of clubs – especially those with a lower vaccination rate than Saints – have expressed their concern.

Woolf accepts the rules are going to cause disruption, but says the advance notice and relatively small number of non-jabbed players means they can plot a way around it.

Woolf said: “It is going to cause disruption for everyone.

I am not quite sure what the numbers are at every club, but I know that we have still got three out of a squad of 30 that have chosen not to be vaccinated.

“It is a difficult one for a lot of people. The guys in our squad who have chosen not to be vaccinated have got strong reasons and strong beliefs as to why they should not have to take that route.

“There is certainly an understanding from their point of view.

“It is unfortunately going to cause some difficulties in terms of travel to France and in terms of risk to close contacts and the higher risk of catching Covid as well.

“They are all conversations that have been had and things that we will have to work around.

“I am sure that most clubs have got similar situations if not more, in terms of numbers. It is going to have an impact.”

It is not an issue that is by any means exclusive to rugby league, highlighted by the Novak Djokovic saga ahead of the Australian Open.

The fact of the matter it is happening in every sport and you only have to look at what is happening in Australia with the tennis. I have watched that and taken note, as most people have,” Woolf said.

“It is a reality of what we have got in the world at the moment and it something that we will have to navigate through and hope that it has minimal impact.

“With the number of players we have got it is a lesser impact, but it will still have an impact nonetheless.

“We know nice and early at the start of the season and we can figure out what we are going to do to navigate ourselves through.

“It’s not going to take us by surprise when we get to it

//www.sthelensstar.co.uk/sport/19877008.f ... lans-away/
Anyone can support a team when it is winning, that takes no courage.
But to stand behind a team, to defend a team when it is down and really needs you,
that takes a lot of courage. #18thMan
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