The coronavirus pandemic is having an impact on sporting events with cancellations of annual carnivals around the region.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
The Gordon Creighton Cup, which was scheduled to be in Inverell this year due to work on Mead Park, has been cancelled.
The Federal Government advising all non-essential events with more than 500 people in attendance should not go ahead and the sport's governing body, NSW Rugby League, have stepped in.
"It is purely out of our control, everything is run under NSW Rugby League, we just run under their banner," Glen Innes minor league president Shad Bailey said.
"That is a decision we have had to make on the back of them."
While the one-off Gordon Creighton Cup's cancellation is a huge loss for the region, Bailey also has concerns about the regular season with the Glen Innes Club possibly hosting in excess of 500 people on game days.
"We are one of the larger club with 189 or 190 registrations which means 380 kids plus officials and families [on game day] which puts you right on the spectrum of 500 plus crowd participation," he said.
"That will all come through in coming days or weeks but that will be NSWRL again.
"Hopefully it doesn't get to that, there will be a lot of disappointed kids if it does.
"How they police it, it is all in the unknown, all waiting in for NSWRL to come in with the decision."
Bailey said it will have a huge impact with in the community.
"I hope it doesn't transpire but the health and safety of our kids is paramount so we will just have to do whatever we're told to do," he said.
"It will be a big loss for all these country towns.
"Football is a big part of the community and it will be really disappointing but we will wait and see."
Other sporting events around the region have also been cancelled with Group 4 announcing their Jack Woolaston nines tournament is off and The Armidale School's annual junior rugby union carnival, which brings around 1000 players to town, will also not go ahead.
TAS Head of School Alan Jones said the decision was made in light of the Federal Government's advice to not hold events of more than 500 people and the responsibilities of the School for the health of students, staff and the broader TAS community.
"We know how much these events mean to our students, the wider community in Armidale as well as those who come to our School from far afield," he said.
North West School Sport have also advised coming trials, championships and knockouts will not proceed after the NSW Department of Education indicated a 'phased social distancing strategy.'