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Australian sport's COVID-19 state of play

3 minute read

The state of play with Australia's leading sporting competitions amid the ongoing coronavirus pandemic.

THE STATE OF PLAY FOR AUSTRALIAN SPORT AMID THE CORONAVIRUS PANDEMIC

AFL - Suspended until May 31. Decision made on Sunday after round one was contested in front of empty stadiums. Season has already been reduced to a 17-fixture competition with shortened quarters. Resumption unclear.

AFLW - Cancelled. Hastily rearranged eight-team finals campaign began on the weekend but the rest of the season was abandoned on Sunday. There will be no premiers for 2020.

NRL - Ongoing. Rounds one and two have been completed. League is flying teams across country on chartered jet while the Warriors are based at a northern NSW beachside resort due to international travel restrictions. Fans are locked out of venues.

A-LEAGUE - Ongoing. Organisers are rescheduling fixtures to push through the season's remaining matches as quickly as possible. Wellington Phoenix to be based in Sydney to complete matches and, along with Melbourne Victory, are in a period of self-isolation after arriving from New Zealand a week ago.

SUPER RUGBY - Suspended. SANZAAR has halted the multi-nation competition due to international travel restrictions. A five-team domestic replacement involving the NSW Waratahs, Brumbies, Queensland Reds, Melbourne Rebels and Western Force had been planned to start next month but its status is unclear.

SUPER NETBALL - Under review. No official word yet but organisers have announced "a number of different scenarios" are being looked at regarding the upcoming season. Interstate travel for pre-season matches has been banned.

NBL - Cancelled. Attempted to get through finals series but decision was made last week to abandon the final two games of the series with Perth leading minor premiers Sydney 2-1. Wildcats later awarded championship.

CRICKET - NSW were awarded the Sheffield Shield after the season was abandoned with one round left to play and no hope of staging a final in the current climate. One-day international series between Australia and New Zealand also abandoned after just one match behind closed doors at the SCG. Organisers expect Twenty20 World Cup in October-November to go ahead as scheduled at this stage.

SUPERCARS - Championship has been put on hold until June. Races at Melbourne Grand Prix were abandoned when that event was called off last week and events in Tasmania, Auckland and Perth have been postponed until later in the year. An online E-series featuring drivers will be held in the interim.

SURFING - The Australian swing of the World Surf League has been put on hold. Organisers have cancelled the season-opening event on the Gold Coast and put the stops at Bells Beach and Margaret River on hold, with the whole season postponed until at least June.

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