‘I WAS SURPRISED NIYI WAS LET GO’
and nine positive tests reported within the academy systems at Munster and Ulster. ‘We have now had two occurrences of Covid and while the primary focus and concern will always be player health it is good to see that the systems and protocols that have been put in place are working,’ said Rod McLoughlin, the IRFU’s medical director. ‘We will now use these experiences to refine our systems and protocols as we continue to operate in this new environment.’ Results from Munster and Connacht are expected in the coming days with both provinces set to do battle in the Aviva on Sunday afternoon. Meanwhile, Pat Lam has admitted he was ‘very surprised’ to be able to snap up Niyi Adeolokun on a short-term deal for Bristol after the Ireland wing was released by Connacht. Bristol boss Lam has signed his former Connacht wing Adeolokun on an injury-cover deal until the end of the delayed 2019/20 campaign, revealing the 29-year-old had already been training with the Bears for the last fortnight. The Ashton Gate club have also brought in ex-Connacht prop Peter McCabe until the end of a season delayed by the coronavirus shutdown. ‘I was very surprised when he was let go,’ said Lam, of Adeolokun leaving Connacht. ‘I spoke to Niyi initially more to keep his head up when he was let go, and I know he had been training with Bundee Aki because they are great friends. ‘But then later he rang me up and asked if he could come and train with us here. ‘And now we’ve given him a contract until the end of the season. But he’s already been here just to train.’ Elsewhere, the propsed ‘Eight Nations’ tournament scheduled for November was dealt a blow yesterday with reports that Japan will abandon plans to take part in the competition due to health and travel restrictions. The Brave Blossoms and Fiji were the two invitational teams poised to join the Six Nations in the specially arranged tournament.