MUNSTER'S PLAYING team and staff have been hit with further nine positive Covid results. The team were given the all clear to fly home yesterday, however this has been put on hold.
The group will have to move to a separate quarantine hotel in Cape Town, where the initial player, who tested positive is situated.
The players and staff who have contacted the virus are said to be fine, but will have to remain in South Africa until the isolation ends. It is not known yet if the Omicron variant is the variant spread across the team.
Limerick , Ireland - 8 January 2020; The Munster squad huddle during a Munster Rugby squad training session at University of Limerick in Limerick. (Photo By Matt Browne/Sportsfile via Getty Images)Every other member of the 38 have had their results come back negative and will now isolate in their rooms.
Jack Chambers, the Irish Sports Minister issued comments on Monday saying that anyone who tested negative would be allowed to come back to Ireland, but Munster have put those plans on hold as their squad has completed another round of PCR testing in order to take every necessary precaution.
Munster are now awaiting the results before taking any action.
Munster's Heineken Champions Cup opener against Wasps is in major doubt as moving it to another date on the calendar is tricky.
Munster's Academy manager Ian Costello is currently overseeing training in Limerick with the province's internationals as well as Academy players.
There is almost certainly no prospect of Munster's opening European clash being postponed due to their ongoing difficulties in South Africa.
📰 Update | #MunsterInSA 🇿🇦
Further positive cases have returned from yesterday's round of PCR testing.
We have tested again this morning.
Players & staff are as well as can be in this challenging situation.
Thank you for your best wishes.#SUAF 🔴
More Info ⤵— Munster Rugby (@Munsterrugby) November 30, 2021
A statement from Munster read:
“Munster’s latest round of PCR testing has identified nine positive cases. The group, including staff and players, will move to the designated quarantine hotel in Cape Town joining the first player who tested positive on Sunday.
“The remaining party of 38 have all returned negative results and continue to individually isolate themselves in their rooms where they have been based since Sunday night.
“As outlined by the Irish government on Monday, those that have received negative results have clearance to travel from the South African authorities.
“In taking every precaution the touring party has completed another round of PCR testing this morning, the third in less that 60 hours, and will wait on results ahead of next steps.
“The ten members of the group who have tested positive will remain in Cape Town until the end of their isolation period. While the individuals were disappointed on receiving the news they are thankfully well and will continue to be monitored medically at this time.
“We understand this is a challenging situation and would like to thank families, friends, colleagues and our rugby community for the many messages of best wishes.”
What an absolute mess this is. Through no fault of their own, Munster are caught in an absolute nightmare https://t.co/JCwCR3wbp2
— Rúaidhrí O'Connor (@RuaidhriOC) November 30, 2021
