RFL: Hydration breaks to be implemented across all levels this weekend

The Rugby Football League have said games being played this weekend will feature two 90-second hydration breaks “to aid players during the extreme weather”.

The ongoing heatwave, which set the UK’s hottest June day on record on Wednesday and could break that on Thursday, has led to school closures and train operators asking people not to travel.

Where appropriate, breaks of at least 90 seconds will be implemented at the 20 and 60-minute mark of matches across all levels of the game.

A decision on whether the temperature at a game merits hydration breaks will be taken by the match commissioner or match referee for games with no commissioner.

The first game of the Super League weekend takes place at Warrington on Thursday, where temperatures are forecast to be 30C when their game kicks off against Catalans at 20:00 BST.

“A break of at least 90 seconds will be implemented at an appropriate break in play around the 20-minute and 60-minute point,” the RFL said in a statement., external

“If a try has been scored or there has been a stoppage for injury management at around this time, the referee will extend the stoppage by a further 60 seconds and this will act as the break.

“Hydration opportunities will also be maximised during breaks in play and there will be increased access to water and electrolyte-based fluids before, during and after games.”

They added: “Depending on the severity of conditions, additional drinks breaks will be considered – an extra 90-second break at the half-hour mark and 70 minutes.”

Hydration breaks are being implemented in all games at this summer’s Fifa World Cup across Canada, Mexico and the United States.

However, there have been some complaints at the three-minute length of the stoppages, especially when many games are being contested in covered stadiums where high temperatures are not an issue.