Brumbies coach Dan McKellar says he trusts his players to do the right thing when it comes to social distancing after a string of controversies in NRL this week.
A trio of high-profile NRL players have been fined by the national body, and two have been handed police fines for breaching COVID-19 restrictions after breaching social distancing laws and posting their activity to social media.
Australia’s Super Rugby players are currently in the middle of a two-week “active rest” break that sees them training but not having to check in with coaches or staff on a regular basis.
A number of players have used the Super Rugby suspension as an opportunity to return to their home states and continue training in pairs or small groups, depending on their states.
Asked whether he had spoken to his players in the wake of the rugby league controversies, McKellar said he trusted his players to represent the sport well.
“When we went on active rest, I spoke to the players last Friday and for this two weeks just really conscious of just giving them some space,” he said.
“I haven't reacted off the back of what's happened with the NRL boys, we trust our players to do the right thing.
“We always talk about the fact that we represent the Brumbies 24/7 and it's part of our values and what we do here so we just trust that they'll do the right thing.
“That's always been a big part of the Brumbies and it's no different, we won't react to what's happening elsewhere.”
The NRL is acting as somewhat of a guinea pig for Australia’s other professional sports, the first to put a firm date of May 28 on its return.
McKellar said rugby could take some wisdom from rugby league’s journey to a return,and the hurdles they’ve had to clear in a bid to stick to that timeline.
“I think the lessons or what you take out of it is I think you’ve got to let the experts in their field deal with what they need to deal with,” he said.
“You've got to admire their ambition.
“I think rugby union's approach is respect to government and protocols that everyone in the country's having to follow at the moment and the health authorities and let them go about their job.
Then when we feel that it's the right time and safe to be back playing professional sport but sport at a community level as well, I think that's as important as anything, is that kids can go out and play footy, netball, whatever it might be, just get some normality back in their lives.
“Whether it's a lesson learned or what's important is that you let the experts do their job.”
Rugby Australia’s return to play committee, that includes representatives from Rugby AU, RUPA and SANZAAR, is aiming for a July return for a domestic compeitition.
There is still a chance that state club competitions could get off the ground before a Super Rugby competition depending on the easing of interstate travel restrictions.
Prime Minister Scott Morrison flagged national restrictions potentially being eased on Friday May 8, when speaking after Friday’s national cabinet but individual state governments are yet to announce any changes to interstate quarantine environments
If that community rugby were able to begin before a national competition,, McKellar said he’d be open to players playing club rugby in the lead-up to a domestic competition
“I think ideally we're playing for the Brumbies and we get the domestic comp off the ground and being televised and being there for people to watch on a Friday or a Saturday or a Sunday.
“If that's not a possibility and then being involved in your community, in your club teams is all,that's an option you certainly wouldn't knock back.
“The exciting part about this year for us is Super Rugby was going to be finished in June which allowed non-Wallaby players to go back and play for their club side.
“So Solomone Kata playing for Gungahlin, Jahrome Brown playing for Gungahlin, Mack Hansen, Tom Ross, I thought it would've made for a really, strong competitive club competition.
“Obviously that isn't going to be the case at the moment but if you can't be playing for the Brumbies but the possibility of playing for your club is there, then you'd consider it.”
