WARRINGTON Wolves’ Super League clash with Catalans Dragons at the Halliwell Jones Stadium has been called off with barely eight hours notice.
The French club has reported four positive COVID cases among its essential staff as it went through the appropriate checks ahead of their departure from Perpignan for tonight’s game.
A Catalans club statement read: “Within the last 24 hours four members of Catalans Dragons’ essential staff have tested positive for Covid-19 – three of them this morning shortly before the squad were due to fly to England. Under the RFL’s Multiple Cases Framework, the club will now await further instruction from the Multiple Cases Group.
“Consideration will be given to rearrangement, although the Betfred Super League table will again be determined by win points percentage to allow for the possibility of not all fixtures being fulfilled.”
It is a blow to Warrington’s hopes of reaching the top two – with the Dragons currently sitting top of the Super League table and ahead on points percentage.
Given the length of time until the end of the season, it seems unlikely that the game will be re-arranged unless recent rumours of the season being extended come to fruition.
It is the second game this month that the Wolves have had cancelled due to a COVID outbreak – following on from their trip to Hull a fortnight ago.
Warrington have played 16 league games so far, winning 11 and drawing one; while Catalans have won 16 of their 18 games. Wigan have played more games than anyone with 19.
The club have said any match tickets purchased can be transferred to the next home fixture against St Helens on Monday August 30, or they will remain valid for the re-arranged game.
The Wolves are next due to be action a week tonight, Thursday August 26, away at Huddersfield.
