Australia and New Zealand have pulled out of the Rugby League World Cup because of “player welfare and safety concerns” related to Covid-19.
The men’s, women’s and wheelchair events are scheduled to take place in England this autumn.
New Zealand Rugby League (NZRL) chief Greg Peters said it was “simply too unsafe” to take part.
Rugby Football League (RFL) chairman Simon Johnson called it a “selfish, parochial and cowardly decision”.
“Rugby League World Cup organisers have bent over backward to offer every assurance to the Australians and the Kiwis,” Johnson told BBC Radio 4’s Today programme.
“We are very unhappy with this decision and we are not prepared to take it lying down.”
NZRL chief Peters said the decision to withdraw was made because the safety and wellbeing of the players and staff “cannot be guaranteed to our satisfaction”.
“There are stark differences between how the pandemic is being managed in the UK compared to Australasia, and recent developments have highlighted how quickly things can change.
“The tournament organisers have moved heaven and earth to make this work, so it is not an easy decision, but the Covid-19 situation in the UK shows no sign of improving, and it’s simply too unsafe to send teams and staff over.”
One of the issues previously raised is Covid-19 regulations and quarantine rules for players and staff travelling back to Australia and New Zealand.
Australia’s borders are currently closed, so anyone returning has to spend 14 days in government-managed quarantine.
There are reports that Australia’s National Rugby League (NRL) teams want the tournament postponed to next year because those regulations mean players would only return to their clubs two weeks before trial games for the 2022 NRL season begin.
Rugby league officials estimate around 400-500 players, staff and team officials from NRL sides, representing several different countries, would be involved in the World Cup.
