Covid chaos: URC teams scramble to leave SA

NEWS: Round Six of the United Rugby Championship has been thrown into chaos after some teams have made it known they are trying to leave South Africa ahead of their scheduled fixtures.

South Africa is one of six countries being added UK government’s travel red list (at 12.00 GMT; 14.00 SA time on Friday) after the emergence of a new Covid-19 variant.

Botswana, Lesotho, Eswatini, Zimbabwe and Namibia are the other countries named.

So far, Welsh sides Cardiff and Scarlets have revealed via social media that they are trying to leave South Africa as soon as possible.

They were due to play back-to-back matches in South Africa.

Cardiff were set to play the Lions in Johannesburg on Sunday before moving onto Cape Town to play the Stormers. The Scarlets were scheduled to play the Sharks in Durban on Saturday and the Bulls in Pretoria on Friday, December 3.

“Following the news of a new COVID-19 variant in South Africa, Scarlets would like to assure families and friends that we are making every effort to get our touring party back home to the UK as soon as possible. We will provide further updates as soon as we can,” said a statement from Scarlets on social media.

Cardiff had a similar message.

“With the situation in South Africa having changed so quickly, we are now looking to repatriate our staff ASAP,” said Cardiff.

“For concerned families and friends, please rest assured that our focus is to ensure the safety and welfare of our people and will keep you updated with any developments.”

Irish province Munster and Italian side Zebre are also in South Africa for matches. Both teams have not yet made it known if they are returning home as well.

Munster will face the Bulls this weekend, while Zebre are in Cape Town preparing to face the Stormers.

“We all are safe & well in Pretoria,” the Munster team said on Twitter.

“We are working with URC on the ongoing situation relating to Covid-19 & will provide an update once we know more.”

On the UK government’s official website it is stated that “British nationals arriving from these six countries between midday Friday and 4am Sunday, and who have been in these countries within the last 10 days, must quarantine at home for 10 days and take NHS PCR tests on Day 2 and Day 8, even if they already have a lateral flow test booking”.

Also, all direct flights from the six countries will be banned from midday [UK time] Friday.

Following the news of a new COVID-19 variant in South Africa, Scarlets would like to assure families and friends that we are making every effort to get our touring party back home to the UK as soon as possible. We will provide further updates as soon as we can.

— Scarlets Rugby (@scarlets_rugby) November 26, 2021

With the situation in South Africa having changed so quickly, we are now looking to repatriate our staff ASAP. For concerned families and friends, please rest assured that our focus is to ensure the safety and welfare of our people and will keep you updated with any developments.

— Cardiff Rugby (@Cardiff_Rugby) November 25, 2021