Munster set to face Edinburgh despite cases of coronavirus

MUNSTER’S Guinness PRO14 clash with Edinburgh will go ahead as scheduled tomorrow, despite two players within the squad having tested positive for Covid-19.

The province’s preparations were plunged into chaos earlier this week after it was learned that a senior player had the virus. It was confirmed last night that a second player also tested positive, but he was already self-isolating having been a direct link to the first case. Both players are understood to be recovering well.

After a difficult few days, Munster have been given the green light to return to their High Performance Centre (HPC) in Limerick this morning.

All training had been halted and although Munster had hoped to return yesterday, those plans were shelved after the full test results had not been made available in time.

Munster also revealed that an Academy player, who was not in the HPC this week, tested positive outside of the club’s tests.

The uncertainty throughout the week cast a cloud over the province but there was also some upbeat news which eight of their players – including the uncapped Shane Daly – named in Ireland’s 35-man Six Nations squad.

In a further boost, Craig Casey and Fineen Wycherley were included as development players, and will train with Ireland next week.

John Cooney was the most high profile omission, while Tadhg Furlong and Keith Earls have been ruled out through injury.

Meanwhile, Joe Schmidt will take on his first role since stepping down as Ireland head coach, after he was appointed World Rugby’s director of rugby and high performance.