RUGBY League World Cup chief executive Jon Dutton is still confident that the tournament will go ahead this year, but admits he is keeping his fingers crossed before making a final decision, which he has previously committed to doing later this month.
Dutton is hoping the Covid-19 Delta variant, which is now the dominant variant causing new infections in England, can be brought under control, and that the government can stick to its vaccination targets between now and the start of the tournament in Newcastle on October 27.
He admits that perhaps his biggest concern centres on whether the World Cup will be able to draw on a full complement of players from the NRL, who will represent Australia, New Zealand and the South Pacific nations who are set to compete in the tournament, but who have strong policies on quarantining and self-isolation.
If they were still in place by the time the tournament begins, it could persuade some players, or even some nations, not to participate.