Gatland’s fact-finding island visit causes a storm
WARREN Gatland’s visit to Guernsey to assess potential facilities for a British & Irish Lions training camp has been defended by the chief executive of States of Guernsey after sparking a row.
The Lions head coach spent time on the Channel Island on the weekend in order to look at facilities for a planned 10-day camp in June before the tour of South Africa.
However, the visit provoked criticism from the island’s former chief minister, Gavin St Pier, who said he was “uncomfortable” with the exemptions granted to the Lions coach at a time when strict border controls are in place.
The visit involved talks with government officials to explore the possibility of the Lions spending time at Guernsey RFC and Jersey Reds’ home ground in St Helier. Despite the criticism, Gatland was permitted to visit the island alone with tight restrictions put in place by the director of public health.
And in an interview with local press, Gatland confirmed that suitable measures had been followed.
“I haven’t been able to go anywhere without a mask,” he told the Guernsey Press. “I was tested before I arrived, I was tested Friday, and again [on Saturday and Sunday].
“With Guernsey particularly we don’t know what the [Covid] situation will be like in June as we are preparing, but the opportunity for things to be open is an attractive idea, especially as these guys have been in stringent bubbles as far as the Six Nations was concerned.”
Paul Whitfield, the chief executive of States of Guernsey, has defended the introduction of unique restrictions for the visit of Gatland. “We take border restrictions very seriously, it is one of the reasons we have been so successful in managing the pandemic,” Whitfield said.
“But we have also built flexibility into the system to support where there is a need. We have seen this in the way we have controlled, monitored and tested essential visitors to the island and we’re grateful to Mr Gatland for understanding the need for strict measures in place for him to be able to visit.”