THE Capalaba Warriors under 16 team hope to have their United Kingdom rugby league tour rescheduled to a later date after missing out on travelling this month due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
The team of 24 were scheduled to fly out of Brisbane along with support staff on April 5 but the tour was abruptly cancelled when restrictions on travel were imposed.
They were due to play four matches against local sides and train with professional team Sheffield Eagles but instead stand to lose a significant chunk of the $120,000 worth of fundraising and sponsorship money they had accrued over 18 months.
More coronavirus coverage:
- Bowman MP Andrew Laming warns of cruise ship debacle repeat as NRL bosses eye June 1 restart with audacious isolation plan
- As other sports sleep, greyhound racing continues to thrive with Capalaba among the clubs benefiting from increased gambling revenue
- Redlands Rugby League Club to open bottle shop, run online raffles as realities of COVID-19 financial crisis hits sporting clubs
- Waste transfer station closed on Good Friday as Redland council calls for patience at dumps
Organiser Jade Wyllie said the airline had taken a $450 fee from each passenger for cancelled tickets, while negotiations with their accommodation providers were ongoing.
"We are trying to almost reorganise a whole new trip but with everything pending at the moment there is no time frame as to when we could travel or be allowed into the UK," she said.
"We are aiming for October but until we know more, it is just a guess at the moment.
"A lot of the teams over there actually went out and bought really big banners, singlets and busses for the team and they are all out of pocket for us at the moment.
"We were kind of as a team thinking that if it doesn't go ahead, whatever kind of money we can get back we will look at reimbursing the UK side for the money that they had to outlay."
Wyllie said the players were disappointed to be missing out on the tour, having long referred to it as 'the opportunity of a lifetime'.
They were due to train with the Sheffield Eagles and play a curtain raiser to a Super League match but now face the prospect of a long wait on the sidelines without any football.
"Physical activity and hanging with their friends is what they do. Five days a week they were training and even doing some extra sessions," Wyllie said.
"A lot of them are upset at the situation but they all understand that it is what it is.
"Right up until Australia got locked down we were still going, that was where our mindset was.
"Everybody was holding on to that hope that it was going to happen. After 18 months of trying to get this over the line, for it to get shutdown, it is a bit heartbreaking."
Wyllie said they would consider planning a trip elsewhere, such as to another part of Queensland, if they were unable to travel overseas.
But support from UK clubs had given the team hope that they could board a flight before the end of the year.
"We have spoken to a some of the teams over there and they are willing to receive us whenever we are good to go," she said.
"I have heard from two of them so far. They have said they don't care when it is, whether it is out of season or whatever, they just really want to play.
"It was a big thing for us and a big thing for them."
Read more local sport news here.