Jackie Edwards touches down for the Wire

The only time since then that Warrington have had a prolonged mid-season break was during the shortened 1995/96 season as the game transitioned from winter to summer. Despite fitting a full league and cup campaign into a six-month window, the games’ rulers decided that the World Cup being staged in England and Wales needed to take priority in October, so no club games were played for over five weeks. Warrington fans did at least get to watch an enjoyable competition during this break though, and many were there to witness the Tonga-New Zealand game at Wilderspool.

Looking back somewhere further, to before the split in rugby that led to the formation of rugby league, we find that the club has even suffered epidemic enforced lockdowns. In the 1890s one of the biggest threats to public health was smallpox. Local and regional breakouts were common, and as the popularity of mass spectator sport was on the rise, and fans started to travel to away games, the authorities were aware of the risk that playing teams from affected areas brought. As a result of a smallpox epidemic in Warrington in November 1892, the club was banned from playing games for nearly a month.

Nothing is new in rugby league it seems, and whilst it’s not clear when the current situation will be resolved, and matches will start again, the club and the game will undoubtedly need the support of the loyal fans to help it recover. For those sport-starved supporters, the resumption of hostilities can’t come soon enough.

League In Lockdown