Halifax clash with Sheffield postponed due to Covid-19

Two members of Sheffield’s playing staff have returned positive Covid-19 test results and a further five have been deemed to be close contacts.

The minimum number of affected players needed to postpone a fixture for Covid-related reasons under the RFL’s protocols is seven.

In addition, the Eagles have postponed their scheduled training sessions for the rest of this week.

The fixture will now be re-arranged for the weekend of June 5-6, one of the two available match slots for rearrangements in the Championship season.

The announcement comes just five games into the new season and follows the virtual wipe-out of the 2020 campaign.

It is the first rugby league match to be postponed in 2021 due to Covid-19 positive cases.

Toulouse’s home games against Featherstone and London Broncos were both called off after quarantine regulations were tightened for visitors returning from France.

London were ordered to forfeit the fixture because, as a full-time team, they were expected to travel, while Toulouse will rearrange the match against part-time Featherstone.

The RFL had decided well before the season began that league positions would be determined by win percentage in case there was further disruption.