Entire Racing squad placed into isolation due to Covid

IRELAND internationals Simon Zebo and Donnacha Ryan, along with the entire Racing 92 squad and backroom staff, have been placed into immediate home isolation after nine positive tests for coronavirus plunged preparations for their Champions Cup final against Exeter on October 17 into turmoil. On top of sending all players, management and support staff into quarantine, the Parisians’ training centre is being closed for a minimum of five days to undergo decontamination. New tests will be carried out next week with the results dictating when individual and team training can resume, according to a statement released by Racing, who have not disclosed the identities of the nine. The Top 14 league match against La Rochelle on Saturday has been postponed, but the hope is that they will be able to undertake their fixture against Toulouse a week later before facing Exeter at Ashton Gate. Although there is no suggestion the Champions Cup final is under threat, were more positive tests to be returned next week then tournament organisers EPCR would consider activating their twostep resolution process a week early. First a match assessment panel made up of a medical advisory group would judge whether the game is safe to go ahead. If the answer to that is no, then a match resolution panel would convene. It is the same process that led to the cancellation of Leicester’s Challenge Cup quarter-final against Castres last month after three players and one member of staff from the French visitors tested positive. That decision was made 24 hours before kick-off. Three positive tests amongst the playing squad triggers an automatic postponement in the Top 14, but that rule is not in place for European action. Even if Racing report a clean bill of health next week, disruption is a major setback as the bigspending French heavyweights attempt to win their first Champions Cup title after finishing runners-up twice. Meanwhile, the lawyer for former England star Sam Burgess has denied sensational allegations in Australia of drug use, domestic violence and harassment. A report in The Australian claimed three separate incidents involving Burgess were covered up by Australian rugby league side South Sydney Rabbitohs, who are also accused of using fake identities to hide positive tests for illegal substances. Burgess’ lawyer Mark O’Brien, however, has strongly denied all the allegations against the 31-year-old, now a coach at the club.