Highlanders CEO outlines team’s Covid-19 isolation plan
Highlanders CEO Roger Clark has outlined what the 14-day isolation period will be like for his team’s players upon their return from Buenos Aires.
The New Zealand government recently issued a directive forcing incoming travellers to self-isolate for 14 days due to coronavirus fears.
All of the Highlanders’ returning members will isolate in Dunedin, and while the majority are expected to spend the next two weeks with their families, some will not.
Clark revealed that alternative accommodation has been arranged for those players who are unable to isolate with their family, with hotels being avoided so that they can minimise contact with the public.
“We’ve just got Airbnbs or houses that they can go into. It’s a containment situation obviously, so it’s trying to keep them away from the public,” he told TVNZ.
Although a large portion of the Highlanders squad will be away from team duties for the coming weeks, 20 of the team’s members – including All Blacks Aaron Smith and Liam Coltman – will be able to participate in team activities and training as they returned early or didn’t travel at all.
The Highlanders issued a statement via their Twitter account in which they told Dunedin residents not to panic if they see Smith, Coltman or any other Highlanders players in the city.
🚨CLUB UPDATE 🚨 pic.twitter.com/dbM1rCgmmP
— Highlanders (@Highlanders) March 15, 2020
Clark said the returning players were showing no signs of ill-health and will be permitted to train on their own if they are able to do that.
“They can do a little bit of their own stuff. They can’t obviously train as a team,” he added.
“They can still train in their house, which is obviously weight bearing stuff, and they can go for a run or a cycle as long as its not in a public place. But they basically have got to keep away from as many people as they can.”
Clark also revealed that the potential loss of games and ticket sales will pose a threat to the franchise.
“That’s something that’s obviously a real concern for us because our money is generated through broadcast, sponsorship and ticketing,” he said.
“Once we know a little bit more from SANZAAR what the competition, or if there is a competition going forward past the next two weeks then we’ll consider what this means to the business as well.”
With Super Rugby’s fixtures suspended for the next two weeks, Clark confirmed that some of the 20 players who remained in New Zealand will be playing club rugby in a week’s time as they wait for news on the fate of the 2020 season.
“The group of players that are still back in New Zealand will play club rugby not this weekend but the weekend following, and by that stage we would hope to know what is going on with the competition and we will be able to inform everybody a little bit more widely.”