Isolation is like being in prison, says Fiji winger

TIGERS STAR NADOLO HIT BY COVID OUTBREAK IN HIS NATIONAL SQUAD

LEICESTER Tigers winger Nemani Nadolo likened the isolation period he and his Fijian teammates have been forced to endure as like “being in jail”.

The former Montpellier and Crusaders back came out of international retirement for the Autumn Nations Cup as his country prepared for Tests against France, Italy and Scotland.

However, an outbreak of Covid19 within the Fijian camp saw all of those games cancelled with 29 players and staff members testing positive.

Their only hope of fulfilling a match on the tour is in the final round of to be confirmed fixtures in December.

Nadolo, like the rest of his Fijian squad, has been isolating in a French hotel as they attempt to rescue at least one fixture from the ill-fated tour.

“It’s hard but rules are rules,” Nadolo said on the Rugby Pod.

“We don’t have long to go, there’s a few more days before the boys can come out and actually start training and socialise a bit which has been tough on this tour because we literally come into camp and it’s been like being in jail.”

The 32-year-old clarified he was not among the 90 per cent of the playing squad to test positive for Covid-19.

His Tigers colleague Kini Murimurivalu is also in the Fiji squad but it is unknown whether he tested positive or negative.

Nadolo added: “We have our own rooms and are in isolation. A lot of us have contracted it.

“We stay in our rooms and follow the rules over here which is 10 days isolation.

“The food comes to you, you’ve got to clean your room as well.

“They bring you a bag full of new bed sheets, you’re on your own really. It’s an experience I guess.”

Since Nadolo, right, has been away with Fiji, the director of rugby who brought him to Tigers, Geordan Murphy, has left the club.

He shared his thoughts with ex-Tigers players Andy Goode and Jim Hamilton, who presented the Rugby Pod.

“It was massively [a shock] for me, I’ve only been in the job six months,” Nadolo said.

“Job cuts all round. I was surprised and shocked. I haven’t spoken to Geordie personally yet,

I will when I get back.

“It’s the club decision at the end of the day. It has been kind of hard for me because I’ve been out here.

“It’s crazy for that to happen. I didn’t see it coming, but to be fair, I am the type of guy who gets his head down and gets on with things.”