BRADFORD Bulls boss John Kear has been left 'immensely disappointed' after he saw his side's Championship game with Sheffield Eagles postponed.

The Odsal outfit were determined to gain revenge against their Yorkshire neighbours, who gained an overwhelming 50-12 victory over them on the opening day, but Coronavirus issues have put paid to those plans.

Sheffield met the threshold of having at least seven senior players being ruled out due to Covid-19 or as close contacts.

Both clubs will now liaise with the RFL to try find a rearranged date. However, this could prove tricky as Bulls are involved in league action weekly until the playoffs take place.

Kear is keen to play the game on a midweek or on the Bank Holiday Monday at the end of August, although the rules state that part-time teams, like Bradford and Sheffield, are not required to play during the week, meaning it would have to be agreed with the visitors.

Giving his initial reaction to the postponement, he said: "I am sure the RFL have done their due diligence and if Sheffield have got seven or more players with Covid problems, they are in their rights to call it off, but it is immensely disappointing.

"We have been in decent form. I know we have lost the last two games (against Featherstone and Halifax) but they have been crackerjack games, I feel like we are developing and growing as a group of players. I wanted to continue playing but that option has been taken out of our hands.

"We have got a game a week right through to the playoffs so unless the RFL decide to extend the season or we can get an agreement from Sheffield to play midweek, it may not go ahead.

"I would like it to go ahead because I think we have got an obligation to the sport to try make the league table as representative as possible, you only do that by playing games."

It is not the only postponement that has impacted Kear this week. On Thursday it was announced the 2021 Rugby League World Cup would be pushed back a year.

The Wales head coach feels the writing was on the wall as soon as all 16 NRL clubs backed Australia and New Zealand's boycott.

Kear added: "We were in contact with our players who play over there, and they were excited to come but nervous as well because they have had numerous lockdowns.

"Hopefully within the next 12 months, Australia realises that they will have to live with Covid and manage it rather than just isolate themselves off to the rest of the world."

When asked if this situation would happen in other sports, Kear said: "It is completely different in rugby league. You have not got one nation that dominates FIFA, whereas Australia dominates the world of rugby league. It is a sad fact.

"It should be the International Rugby League that make the decisions, but it seems to be the NRL clubs. It is a sad indictment of the sport at this current time.

"We now just have to look a year down the line and make it as good of a competition as we possibly can."