Unvaccinated NRL players banned from playing or training in Queensland and Victoria

The NRL has confirmed that players who are not vaccinated against COVID-19 will not be able to play or train in Victoria or Queensland as a result of restrictions by the respective state governments.

The announcement comes after the Queensland Government unveiled new guidelines for sporting events and government-owned stadiums, meaning only double-vaccinated fans, staff and athletes will be allowed to access venues.

As a result, the home grounds of the Brisbane Broncos, North Queensland Cowboys and Gold Coast Titans will also be restricted to fully vaccinated players and staff.

The Victorian Government has a similar ruling - requiring personnel involved with sporting events, including athletes, coaches and support staff to be fully vaccinated prior to the end of 2021 - which means unvaccinated players are not able to play at the Melbourne Storm's home ground, AAMI Park.

While NRL Chief Executive Andrew Abdo says 95% of the League's 450 players have been vaccinated, the code has not followed the lead of the AFL in mandating vaccinations for players and staff, meaning those clubs based in NSW or ACT may be permitted to train and play within the states.

Abdo confirmed the NRL’s acceptance of the new guidelines, commenting “whilst we haven’t mandated vaccinations, we have been incredibly strong in educating and facilitating as many players as possible getting vaccinated.

“And the players and clubs have responded, so we have a high vaccination rate.

“We will adapt to and adhere to the public health orders and obviously that will mean that the very, very small group of players that choose not to be vaccinated, will have to adhere to those public health orders.

“The public health order is you can’t enter the stadium unless you’ve been vaccinated, then those players won’t be able to train and play.

“We are also working on some pretty stringent protocols … those protocols are designed to keep everyone safe and to keep the competition running.”

Discussing the risk of unvaccinated players being released from their clubs due to their vaccination status affecting availability in the competition, Abdo stated “we obviously don’t want to see players sacked.

“We want to see everyone vaccinated and if they aren’t vaccinated, we want to see a way in which we can get them playing safely.

“I think it’s important that we adhere to the principle that clubs are autonomous and they run a business.

“We are allowing people the freedom of choice, which I think is important, but we are putting health at the forefront of our policy, which is we believe in vaccination, and we want everyone to get vaccinated.

“Obviously we are now going to have to deal with a very small group on how we deal with them in different jurisdictions and we’re up for that.”

Melbourne Storm's Nelson Asofa-Solomona, who recently posted on social media about his opposition to vaccination faces not being able to train or play with the club and having his contract voided.

The Canberra Raiders are also reported to have several players who are still refusing to get vaccinated.

Raiders Chief Executive Don Furner said the Raiders were not considering terminating contracts for those players, but he said there would come a time next year when they will not be able to fulfil their contractual obligations.

Furner explained “it's easier for them if they get vaccinated. They can travel into Queensland and play games, they can travel into Victoria and play, they can have a lot freer airline travel.

"It's a lot more difficult for anybody who isn't going to be vaxxed, so we'll sit down and explain that to them, and leave the decision with them."

Abdo said the NRL was working on what salary cap relief could be offered to clubs who were forced to sack players.

Image: NRL captains at the 2021 season launch.