THE results from this week’s testing for Covid-19 across the 11 Betfred Super League clubs, match officials and other relevant staff have been received.

Two players, and two non-playing members of staff, have tested positive for coronavirus but none were named by the governing body - and neither have their clubs.

Since then, Wakefield coach Chris Chester says his club are considering going into lockdown after two more players tested positive for Covid-19.

Chester revealed at his press conference today that another seven players have been forced to stand down and claimed the re-opening of schools may have been a contributory factor.

“There’s been a couple of positive tests and another seven or eight players we’ve had to stand down on the top of that,” he said.

“We need to have a look at what we’re doing out on the field, whether we’re doing everything possible to minimise the risk, and all the players need to look at what doing away from the club as well.

“We spoke today about potentially locking ourselves down for four or five days to get rid of the virus that is lingering around the players at this moment in time.

“It would give us chance to have a look at the training aspect and to give this place a real deep clean. If that’s what it takes, then that’s what we’re going to have to do and fingers crossed that works for us.”

Chester added: “This was always the worry as soon as schools go back, the risk becomes a lot higher and, without actually delving into it, that’s obviously a reason we’ve had to stand some people down.”

Chester says that, although he is down to just 17 players, Friday’s Super League game against Wigan at Warrington's Halliwell Jones Stadium will go ahead.

Chester says he was forced to bring in one player, second rower Matty Ashurst, from paternal leave simply to make up the team.

“These things keep happening and it’s hard work at the minute,” he added. “You prepare for a game on Friday and half your team gets pulled from underneath your feet in the last 24 hours.

“Last night I had 16 players and I had to make a phone call to Matty to ask him to join us for today for the team run. His wife had a baby on Monday but he came in today and he’s fit and ready to go.”

On top of the Covid withdrawals, Chester has lost winger Liam Kay and prop Eddie Battye to injuries sustained in last week’s defeat at Huddersfield.

There are five fixtures in the Betfred Super League this week, all being played at the Halliwell Jones Stadium in Warrington, and four of them live on Sky Sports, as follows:

Thursday September 24:

Hull KR v Leeds Rhinos (245pm - available to season ticket holders on the Our League app)

Hull FC v Salford Red Devils (6pm, live on Sky Sports)

Castleford Tigers v Huddersfield Giants (815pm, live on Sky Sports).

Friday September 25:

Warrington Wolves v Catalans Dragons (6pm, live on Sky Sports)

Wigan Warriors v Wakefield Trinity (815pm, live on Sky Sports).