Leeds' Super League clash with St Helens has been postponed after the Rhinos recorded positive cases of Covid-19.
Two Rhinos players have tested positive for the virus, which has resulted in a significant number of players being required to stand down on track and trace.
Such was the severity of the matter, Leeds would have been unable to raise a team for the clash with the Super League champions.
One of the Leeds players who has tested positive underwent a PCR test in order to confirm they had the virus. Given the result came back positive, it meant several team-mates also had to be stood down and resulted in the Rhinos having more than seven Covid-related absentees for Friday's game.
That left club officials and the RFL with little choice but to call off the contest, with Wigan's clash with Huddersfield also off after positive cases at the Giants.
They are the first two Super League fixtures to be called off due to Covid-19 related issues this season.
That's a drastic improvement on last season, when numerous games were called off due to various outbreaks. Only one game in the top three divisions has previously been pushed back this season, with Halifax's game with Sheffield postponed last month.
However, with cases rising across the UK there was a feeling of inevitability that Super League would eventually be hit.
Sunday’s Women’s Super League game between St Helens and Wigan has also been called off after a Saints players tested positive following their Challenge Cup final victory over York on Saturday. More than five of her team-mates were ordered to self-isolate for 10 days as a result.
The competition has retained the win percentage league format occupied last year in order to combat fixture disruptions.
It's hoped that the game will be rearranged later in the year but with St Helens featuring in the Challenge Cup Final, opportunities to play the game appear limited.
