Cardiff and Munster stuck in Cape Town over Covid bubble breach

CARDIFF and Munster remained trapped in Cape Town last night, unable to fly home after positive Covid-19 tests forced the travelling squads to go into isolation. The Scarlets were able to depart on a flight to Dublin, along with Italian side Zebre, after two rounds of United Rugby Championship fixtures in South Africa were hastily postponed.

That decision came after travel restrictions were imposed in response to the emergence of the new Omicron variant. However, Cardiff and Munster were left grounded after discovering their Covid bubbles had been breached. Cardiff recorded two positive results — one a suspected Omicron case — from their PCR tests on Saturday night, forcing the whole travelling party to return to their hotel to isolate. They are awaiting guidance with a view to flying home when ‘safe and appropriate’. Munster were prevented from leaving on their charter flight to Dublin after one positive test.

The Irish province are also isolating and liaising with the authorities about their next move. Meanwhile, Sportsmail understands that a South Africa player tested positive for Covid shortly after joining up with the Barbarians following the Springboks’ defeat against England at Twickenham on November 20. The player was isolated, as was another member of the invitational club’s multi-national squad who tested positive. The Barbarians complied with a strict testing programme, and sources have dismissed claims that players breached protocols prior to the abrupt cancellation of Saturday’s game against Samoa at Twickenham.