Canberra Raiders boss and Project Apollo member Don Furner has backed the existing NRL coronavirus protocols, confident the competition can avoid the need to enforce blanket testing of all players.
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Australian sport was rocked last week when Essendon's Conor McKenna tested positive to COVID-19, with the AFL forced to postpone one of its games and consider isolation for several players. It emerged on Tuesday night McKenna's latest test had returned a negative result.
But the events have put all sports on notice, with the NRL relocating the Melbourne Storm to NSW but the Melbourne Rebels remaining in the Victorian capital.
It's understood the Rebels will be given the all clear to travel to Canberra for their Super Rugby AU clash against the ACT Brumbies on July 4 despite ACT, NSW and Queensland governments urging people to reconsider visiting the Victorian hotspots.
All Rebels players and staff were tested on Monday and returned negative results despite Victoria's spike in coronavirus cases, with another 17 reported on Tuesday.
The NRL was the first professional sport to resume in Australia and is yet to record a positive test, officials easing "bubble" restrictions on players last weekend.
McKenna initial positive result was picked up in the AFL's twice weekly testing, which all players are subjected to. Furner was a Project Apollo advisor for the NRL's coronavirus protocols.
"I think we're dealing with it very well, the NRL. That's not to say something's not going to happen as things get relaxed, who knows," Furner said when asked if blanket testing should be introduced.
"Our protocols that we've been adhering to were signed off by the correct health authorities and we're, touch wood, going well."
The situation in Melbourne sparked frantic calls to Rugby Australia to find out if the start of a new domestic season would be disrupted by the spike in cases. Victoria confirmed 19 coronavirus cases on Sunday and 16 on Monday, taking to 193 the number of new cases over the past nine days.
It's another potential hurdle for the code, with officials desperate for games to resume to start rebuilding trust with rugby's fan base.
The ACT government has given the go-ahead for fans to attend live sport in Canberra on the first weekend in July, with the Raiders to play the Dragons next Friday night and the Brumbies to meet the Rebels the following evening.
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Up to 1500 spectators will be able to attend the Brumbies' match, with the club contacting members this week while the Raiders are finalising their ticket allocation. It will be the first large gatherings in Canberra since March after the government eased restrictions.
If both games go ahead without incident and there is no evidence of associated coronavirus cases, Chief Health Officer Dr Kerryn Coleman could clear the way for larger crowds at future matches.
All government approved Rugby Australia's return-to-play plan before the competition was relaunched as a five-team domestic competition. Players have committed to a training "bubble" limiting contact with the outside world and consenting to medical screening before and after training sessions.
CANBERRA DOUBLE-HEADER
July 3: Canberra Raiders v St George-Illawarra Dragons at Canberra, 6pm
July 4: ACT Brumbies v Melbourne Rebels at Canberra, 7.15pm