Life in the bubble, David Shilovsky
Life in the bubble The introduction of the bubble rule saved sport during the pandemic, but it took an immense toll on players and their families. David Shilovsky explores whether this unprecedented move was worth it.
Pictures:
Lisseth Portillo
Lisseth leaguePortillo to function outside the realms of the
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HE EFFECTS OF COVID-19 have been felt across nearly every aspect of society, and professional sporting organisations have been no exception.
greater public.
The outbreak of the virus couldn’t have come at a worse time for the NRL, who had been haemorrhaging money for years and had virtually nothing squirreled away for a rainy day (or a pandemic).
Each club would have a bubble in which only essential staff would be included –—players, coaches and support staff. Everyone included had to agree to strict biosecurity measures that would restrict what they would be able to do and where they would be able to go once under the bubble conditions.
This meant they couldn’t afford to shut down for very long at all, but luckily, Australian Rugby League Commission chairman Peter V’landys came up with a plan to save the day — introducing a “bubble” system to allow the
The NRL itself would establish further restrictions – journalists and photographers found themselves unable to attend games as media passes were suspended. More cuts were made to staff at the stadiums where matches 50
