Clubs show sizeable drop in virus cases

COVID-19: Premiership Rugby said Thursday there had been a drop in the number of positive coronavirus cases in the top flight of English club rugby union following its latest round of testing.

Officials reported that 16 players and three members of staff from eight different clubs had produced positive Covid-19 results in this week’s tests, a sizeable reduction on last week’s total of 33.

Despite the latest figures, however, Saturday’s East Midlands derby between Northampton and Leicester has been called off following a virus outbreak involving the Saints.

This is the fifth league match this season to fall victim to Covid-19, although the other five fixtures in the sixth round of league matches are all still set to go ahead as scheduled.