NRL players told to avoid fans as coronavirus protocols set
By Sam Phillips SMH
March 12,
2020 — 12.42pm
NRL players have been told to avoid selfies and any contact with fans before or after a match as part of new coronavirus guidelines.
The NRL has sent all clubs the guidelines to try to prevent the coronavirus spreading through its clubs.
The Herald has been told there are three key points in the memo.
Firstly, clubs have been told to instruct players to not take selfies with fans, to avoid any contact with fans and to not take pens to sign autographs.
Players are encouraged to do a lap of the ground to say thanks to fans but to stay within the field of play.
Secondly, access to dressing rooms has been restricted.
Only players and essential match-day staff will be permitted into change rooms, though the NRL has left it up to clubs to determine whether families will be allowed in post match.
Finally, clubs have been told to "limit" community visits which includes going to hospitals, schools and junior clubs.
NRL chief executive Todd Greenberg will hold a phone hook-up with all 16 club bosses this afternoon to discuss the outbreak, just hours before the season kicks off at Bankwest Stadium.
The NRL's memo came as coronavirus prevention measures continued to escalate rapidly around world sport, with the Times reporting that the English Premier League is set to be played behind closed doors, and in the US, an NBA game between the Utah
Jazz and the Oklahoma City Thunder was called off just moments before tip-off due to
Jazz centre Rudy Gobert coming down with illness.
).
