18 March 2020

Rugby league side Leeds Rhinos have eight players and staff members in isolation due to coronavirus

Rugby league side Leeds Rhinos have confirmed that eight players and staff are in self-isolation after showing symptoms for the coronavirus.

The Rhinos' Super League match against Catalans Dragons on Saturday was postponed due to a first team player displaying signs of having COVID-19.

The team refused to travel to Barcelona to complete the fixture, but tests on the unnamed player came back negative.

It was one of four league matches cancelled at the weekend and since then all rugby league has been postponed until April 3.

Despite the circumstances, rugby league chief executive Ralph Rimmer said the Rhinos may face a fine for not completing the fixture.

"We spoke with Leeds at some length this week on that particular issue," he told the BBC.

"We've applied all the guidelines that the government asked us to observe, and Leeds took a unilateral decision not to travel to that fixture. That will follow due process now."

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