The NRL will finalise its vaccination plan this afternoon following a meeting with the clubs.
The league has already confirmed that no vaccine mandate will be put in place despite the opposite approach taken by rival code the AFL.
According to The Sydney Morning Herald, the NRL will encourage all 16 clubs to create individual programs so that players who opt against getting vaccinated can train away from the team’s headquarters.
In NSW, and until at least December 1, players who are unvaccinated aren’t allowed to train with their teammates.
This could change if guidelines are changed after December 1 when revisited.
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If unvaccinated players are eventually allowed to return to their teams, regular PCR testing, face masks and not attending venues like pubs and clubs for the remainder of the season are expected to be enforced by the NRL.
This big issue for the NRL is the state of Victoria.
Victoria has a black and white vaccine mandate which doesn’t permit professional athletes to partake in their respective sports unless vaccinated.
The policy is so strong that not even the world’s top tennis players will be granted exemptions to bypass it, which Premier Daniel Andrews has stated on several occasions.
The report also states that Queensland is leaning towards the idea of mandatory 14-day isolation periods for teams and close contacts when an unvaccinated player tests positive for COVID-19.
NRL CEO Andrew Abdo last week admitted that despite the plans the NRL eventually puts in place, health guidelines will have the final say.
“Of course this might be taken out of our hands by health orders or by airlines, so there will be repercussions for those that don’t choose to be vaccinated but it’s not our approach as a governing body to mandate it,” he said.
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