VIRUS BRINGS SALE TO ITS KNEES
Game in crisis as Sharks season cancelled and RFU launch investigation into the club
SALE SHARKS face an RFU investigation after their season was ended prematurely when six more players tested positive for coronavirus.
Eight further confirmed cases overall led to last night’s rearranged Premiership game with Worcester being cancelled.
There have now been 27 in total at the Sharks in the last seven days, including 22 players.
With the final-round fixture originally scheduled for last Sunday scrapped, Worcester were awarded a 20- 0 win – meaning Sale miss out on a place in this weekend’s play-offs.
A club spokesman said: “This is devastating for Sale Sharks, the players and staff, with Covid-19 denying the club the chance to challenge for the Premiership title at the final hurdle. Sale Sharks and all involved with the club are determined to come back stronger than ever in time for next season.”
A spokesman for the sport’s governing body said: “The RFU is undertaking a full and thorough investigation and is working closely with Public Health England. The RFU has concerns about how this situation has developed and will be making recommendations to avoid future uncertainty for clubs and players, as well as protecting the reputation of the game.”
Sale angrily dismissed accusations of bubble-breaking and blame a single false negative test, which allowed an infected player to unknowingly pass the virus to the rest of the squad before the testing error was picked up.
“Although everyone e at Sale Sharks is disappointed apserio to see our campaign end in this manner, the club wholly understands the welfare of players, staff and officials is the most important factor,” said the Sale spokesman.
“Throughout the last six months, we’ve followed the official guidelines and protocols given to us by the RFU and Premiership Rugby, with rigorous testing regimes and safety measures in place to protect everyone connected to the game. Sale Sharks is confident the audit carried out by the RFU will confirm this absolutely. Reports over the weekend suggesting our players acted irresponsibly by partying and socialising throughout Manchester after our Premiership Rugby Cup victory are completely inaccurate and untrue.
“We would like to reassure those well-wishers that no one who has been infected has any serious health concerns at pr present. The club will c continue to ensure everybody is closely monitored and supported over the coming in weeks.”
C Calling off last night’s game belatedly confirmed the Premiership play-off line-up, with Exeter’s clash with Bath following Wasps versus Bristol in Saturday’s first semi-final.
But Exeter director of rugby Rob Baxter (above) fears the Chiefs’ double dream could yet be derailed by coronavirus.
He has put his squad on alert ahead of the showdown with Bath and for the rest of what could be a historic season for the European finalists. Baxter said: “We’re currently at our most dangerous period. We’ve gone from Exeter and
Devon having hardly any cases and being one of the lowest areas of Covid to being in the top 20 hotspots now based purely on a rash of infections around Exeter University. We’re at our most vulnerable and I imagine Bath are in a similar scenario with their university.
“Everyone assumes the challenge is telling your players not to go out for a beer. That isn’t the challenge. The players twigged that months ago. The challenge is things that don’t seem problematic – going for a coffee, going for food, or even some city- centre shops. It’s not about them being reckless.”
Exeter’s Champions Cup final opponents Racing called off a Top 14 game with La Rochelle and quarantined their entire squad after nine positive tests.