URC duo remain in South Africa after Covid positives

Planet Rugby

A general view of Thomond Park during the United Rugby Championship Round 4 match between Munster Rugby and Connacht Rugby at Thomond Park in Limerick, Ireland on October 16, 2021 (Photo by Andrew SURMA/ SIPA USA).

Munster and Cardiff have delayed their return from South Africa after there were positive coronavirus tests found in their respective squads.

Their United Rugby Championship clashes were postponed after a new Covid variant was discovered by South African scientists.

The affected European-based teams were all hoping to return home, but Munster and Cardiff will stay in the country for the time being.

Await further guidance

Munster said: “This morning Munster Rugby were making plans to join their fellow URC sides in departing Cape Town for Dublin by charter.

“After arriving at their hotel in Cape Town late last night the squad underwent a round of PCR testing ahead of today’s possible departure. The returning results have identified one positive case.

“In taking all precautions and prioritising the health and wellbeing of everyone Munster Rugby will not travel today and will return to their hotel for an isolation period as a matter of priority. The province will await further guidance from the health authorities.”

The four round-six fixtures – Scarlets v Sharks, Cardiff v Lions, Munster v Bulls and Stormers v Zebre Parma – were called off after UK officials sounded the alarm over a new variant of the virus in South Africa, which has the potential to evade immunity built up by vaccination or prior infection.

Cardiff said they have been unable to depart following two positive cases, one of which is suspected to be the new variant Omicron.

The Welsh club said in a statement: “As a consequence of one of these results suspected of being Omicron, the entire travelling party have returned to their hotel to isolate.

“Cardiff Rugby continue to work with the South African Rugby Union, the Welsh Rugby Union and public health authorities both at home and abroad to decide the next course of action.

“The club are also continuing to work with all relevant authorities to secure the travelling party’s return to Wales when safe and appropriate.”

Zebre chairman Michele Dalai had earlier tweeted that all four visiting sides would be flying from Cape Town at 12pm and landing in Dublin at 10pm.

Round seven fixtures, scheduled to take place in South Africa next weekend, have also been postponed.

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The Scottish outfit fell to their third loss of the campaign after going down to a narrow 19-18 defeat to Benetton in the United Rugby Championship.

Head coach Wilson said: “We’ve got to take a long, hard look at ourselves in the mirror, because that’s not good enough from us.

“Not to take anything away from Benetton, who played well, but we were in a position to win that game with 90 seconds to go and we conspired to throw it away.”