The Rugby League Players’ Association (RLPA) has released the following statement regarding the outcome of the Innovation Committee (Project Apollo) meeting today.
RLPA Chief Executive Officer, Clint Newton, said that players remain committed to working towards a resumption on May 28, but further clarity is required before this is considered a definitive date.
“The return to training and playing dates for the NRL competition remain unconfirmed at this stage as players require clarity on a range of areas,” Newton said.
“While we remain optimistic and committed to working through a thorough process which will see players return go training and playing, our priorities that we have continually outlined over the past few weeks have not changed, nor has our desire to get the competition back up and running.
“We have communicated with our player representatives earlier today and reaffirmed this position with the Innovation Committee and the NRL this evening following inconsistent media comments.
“The NRL have clarified that the Project Apollo committee will continue to work towards these resumption dates in their statement tonight.
“These fundamental areas include assurances and protections relating to the health and safety of our members.
“The outstanding matters, such as confirmation that players will have access to the appropriate medical facilities and services should they be injured, are paramount before reaching a definitive return date.
“The collaborative process between the NRL, Clubs and players remains critical in ensuring we make informed decisions in what is a challenging landscape.”