Covid-19 forces Jamie Roberts to stay in Cape Town

David Skippers

Stormers centre Jamie Roberts has revealed that coronavirus has forced him to cancel a planned trip to the United Kingdom to renew his visa.

The former Wales and British and Irish Lions star joined the Cape Town-based franchise from Bath in mid-January. He has started in all six of the Stormers’ Super Rugby matches but that tournament has been put on hold due to the coronavirus pandemic.

And as a citizen of the United Kingdom, Roberts would not be allowed back into South Africa after the country closed its borders to foreigners from countries that are high risk with Covid-19.

Stormers head coach John Dobson said Roberts has opted to stay in Cape Town for the time being.

“No, he is not (going back). It was on the cards because he had to get his visa renewed,” he told Sport24.

“Obviously, if he flew tonight, he would not be able to return. So he has decided to stay.”

Due to coronavirus, South African president Cyril Ramaphosa declared the country a ‘national state of disaster’ at the weekend.

Roberts, a qualified doctor, fears the situation could get worse in the Rainbow Nation.

“The main worry in South Africa is the quality of the healthcare system and people’s access to it,” the 33-year-old told WalesOnline.

“I’ve only been here a few months. You just hope something as fast spreading as coronavirus doesn’t get into the townships. That’s the biggest worry here.

“There was a big announcement by the president on Sunday that they are closing the borders to people from high-risk countries.

“I was thinking of nipping back to Wales in April, but I can’t do that now because I wouldn’t be allowed back into South Africa.

“There are still huge question marks over whether Super Rugby will get finished. I think it’s unrealistic to envisage us playing for another three or four weeks and by that time you are into mid-April.”

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