This year's Rugby League World Cup is reportedly poised to be postponed until 2022.
Officials had initially vowed to press on with the tournament in October and November despite the withdrawal of Australia and New Zealand from the tournament due to concerns regarding COVID-19.
But according to multiple UK-based media outlets, organisers are expected to concede and delay the competition for 12 months at a board meeting on Thursday (NZ time).
Last week, all 16 NRL clubs announced they didn't support their players travelling to the event despite the assurance of bio-secure bubbles and private charter flights.
The 12-month postponement means the tournament will now be in direct competition with the FIFA World Cup in Qatar, which is also scheduled for November 2022.
Last week, New Zealand Rugby League boss Greg Peters said he didn't believe the World Cup's safety processes and procedures were adequate.
"Our primary concern is the safety of our people on the ground in the UK, and also the ability to repatriate them to both Australia and New Zealand after the World Cup," Peters told Newshub.
"You've seen what's happened in Australia recently, with the exposure to cases there and the insecurity of the trans-Tasman bubble. All of those things add up to a situation that's a step too far for us to take this year, unfortunately."
Players have also expressed concerns, with Kiwis half Kodi Nikorima withdrawing from selection and captain Dallin Watene-Zelezniak admitting he had doubts it should proceed.
"To be honest, I can't see it this year going ahead, just because of not only football, but the way the world is going at the moment," Watene-Zelezniak said earlier this month.
"It's pretty crazy times and football should be the last thing on people’s minds."
Newshub understands the NZRL has already begun plans to stage tests against Australia and Tonga in lieu of the world cup.
