BAA BAAS BURST EDDIE’S BUBBLE
Threat to Sunday’s game derails England’s Six Nations plans
ENGLAND’S warm-up with the Barbarians on Sunday may be cancelled after some of the touring squad broke out of their Covid-19 bubble.
Ex-England captain Chris Robshaw (right) is reported to be one of the group of players that left the team’s London hotel on Wednesday night. It is thought around half the 23-man Baa Baas squad contravened the coronavirus code of conduct.
They have been isolated from the rest of the squad and are unavailable for the match at Twickenham.
Robshaw, 34, was due to play before heading to the United States with San Diego and the Barbarians have been left scratching around to get a squad together. If they don’t manage it by 3pm today the game will be called off.
That is bad news for England coach Eddie Jones, who is desperate to get game time into some of his stars ahead of next weekend’s Six Nations finale against Italy.
The Baa Baas clash is scheduled to be England’s first Test since the 33- 30 victory over Wales in March.
The Barbarians were frantically searching for replacement yesterday.
That could mean trying to get Bristol players, Covidtested on Tuesday, on board and other British players not in national camps – although that move could be blocked by Premiership rugby.
The Premiership has already denied in-contract players the chance to play because of built-in rest ahead of the start of the new season next month.
An announcement is expected at 3pm today when the identities of those missing should become obvious – providing the Baa Baas can raise a team.
An RFU statement read: “Even with a further round of PCR testing it will not be possible to guarantee these players are not infectious.
“To protect the safety of other participants, they cannot be permitted to remain with the Barbarians squad and play in Sunday’s fixture.
“If sufficient new players with an appropriate testing history and who have been meeting the code of conduct standards can be brought into the Barbarians camp then the game will go ahead.”
There are also several Saracens players included by the Baa Baas, such as Manu Vunipola and Jackson Wray for a match against team-mates such as Owen Farrell and Maro Itoje. Sarries players are eligible because the date of their next fixture is unclear fol lowing their relegation.
It is another twist in a season that has seen the Saracens salary cap scandal and Covid19 wrecking the Six Nations and the domestic season.