Leeds will not face punishment over cancelled Perpignan trip, RFL confirms

Leeds will not be punished for not travelling to Perpignan to face Catalans in March before action was officially suspended.

The Super League fixture was scheduled for Saturday, March 14 – but the Rhinos pulled out on the eve of the game after one of their players displayed symptoms of coronavirus.

The game was due to go ahead behind closed doors but Leeds decided not to travel – and the whole sport was then suspended due to the pandemic on March 16.

An RFL statement read: “The RFL board and compliance manager have respectively considered matters arising from Leeds Rhinos failure to fulfil the above match.

“In accordance with the operational rules, and having considered all the circumstances which it was noted were truly exceptional, the RFL board has determined that the match should be replayed and the compliance manager has determined that no other disciplinary action should be taken.

“Leeds have been reminded, and have accepted, that the operational rules are in place to ensure the smooth operation and integrity of the professional rugby league competitions – and that in more usual circumstances the failure to fulfil a fixture would have led to significant sanctions.”

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