Hull FC can confirm that a number of first-team players and staff have been affected by the recent increase in Covid-19 transmissions, but the intention is for Sunday’s Betfred Super League fixture against Leigh Centurions to go ahead as planned.
Three players have separately tested positive for Covid-19 via external transmissions outside of Hull FC and are required to isolate, before completing the RFL’s Return to Play protocols.
In an untimely addition, four players are also required to self-isolate following separate external track and tracing via positive cases within family or friends away from the club.
Further to this, head coach Brett Hodgson is also subject to an external track and trace and is therefore required to self-isolate too.
Hodgson will continue to advise on all team matters remotely and assistant coaches Kieron Purtill and Gareth Ellis will take charge of the team on Sunday.
With several players also unavailable due to long-term injuries, the club will have limited player availability for the match against Leigh Centurions but remain committed to fulfilling the fixture.
The club continues to do its very best to maintain the integrity of the Super League fixture list, as demonstrated by the fantastic win over Huddersfield Giants last time out in which the club only had 15 senior players available and two academy debutants.
Last season, Hull FC also fulfilled a fixture at less than 24 hours notice against Leeds Rhinos following the withdrawal of another club.
Until now, Hull FC were one of the few clubs yet to record any positive cases this season and it takes its approach to Covid-19 protocols extremely seriously.
Unfortunately, the rapid rise in coronavirus cases in the region has now affected club, with these isolations the result of external transmission.
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