Rugby Union: Sydney COVID outbreak brings halt to Shute Shield and puts Newcastle in frame to host Wallabies-France Test

Instead the Wildfires will take on each other in an opposed training session after the Shute Shield was suspended due to the COVID-19 outbreak in Sydney.

The worsening situation in the metropolitan area may also impact on the Test series between the Wallabies and France.

The first Test is scheduled for the Sydney Cricket Ground on July 7, with the second Test at AAMI Park on July 13.

Newcastle and Canberra are understood to be fall back venues if Tests have to be moved.

As it stands, if the Test is played in Sydney all involved would need exemptions to travel to Queensland for the third Test at Suncorp Stadium on July 17.

The Sydney Roosters have moved their National Rugby League clash against the Melbourne Storm on Thursday to McDonald Jones Stadium.

NSW Rugby Union, on advice from NSW Health, on Friday suspended all competitions - Shute Shield, Sydney Suburban and Jack Scott Cup - until July 2.

The situation will be assessed next week, but round 12 matches are also likely to be suspended.

The Wildfires are due to host Warringah at No.2 Sportsground.

There are nine rounds of the Shute Shield remaining, with no spare weekends allocated for catch-up games.

The Wildfires are coming off back-to-back wins over Western Sydney (43-11) and Manly (17-12).

"We were really confident of giving Gordon a shake," Coleman said. "Gordon have lost three games in a row. We have a bit of wind in our sails and were looking to go down there and knock them off."

READ MORE: GUTSY WILDFIRES START TO BELIEVE

Under the deed of co-existence with Hunter Rugby clubs, any Wildfires player who has featured in five games in the Sydney competition is ineligible to go back to local club rugby.

"Our boys would rather be playing, but we will put them through a physical training session," Coleman said.

On the plus side, it is potentially one less game that Leon Fukofuka (Tonga), OJ Noa and Henry Stowers (Samoa) will miss while in New Zealand on international duties.

Former Waikato Chiefs centre Louis Rogers was set to make his run-on debut for the Wildfires against the Highlanders.

The 25-year-old arrived in Newcastle a fortnight ago and played second grade against Manly.

"He was looking at going to Europe but with COVID he thought this was a safer option," Coleman said. "He has come over for two years. We got him a good job with the Plumbing Doctor. He has a six-month-old baby and his family is keen to settle here..

"He can play 12 or 13 and gives us stability. He has played a lot of high-end rugby and knows what it takes.

"He is really good at recognising things, has a strong skill base and high work ethic. He has critiqued a little bit of our attacking shape already. His chat will only get better once he is more comfortable."

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