DOWNLOAD "Clearly, the views of those players have not been enough to prevent this decision and we believe it has been made prematurely," RLPA CEO Clint Newton said. "We have worked closely with Rugby League World Cup staff for some time now and we are committed to continuing those discussions regarding player health and safety protocols. "We have an obligation to advocate on behalf of all players to secure the best possible terms and conditions for the tournament, and this remains ongoing. "For players representing remaining participating Nations, our priority will be to help ensure appropriate health and safety measures are in place, and also provide them with the relevant information to make an informed decision about participation.