Scots rugby tour plans hit as Covid virus strikes

SCOTLAND’S rugby summer tour plans are in disarray after a member of the 37-strong squad tested positive for Covid — with eight team-mates now forced to self-isolate after being identified as potential close contacts. All nine were ruled out of tomorrow’s game between Scotland A and England A, which will go ahead as scheduled at Welford Road in Leicester. However, it’s too early to say if they will be allowed to travel for the Test matches in Romania on July 10 and Georgia on July 17. Meanwhile, Hearts were forced to cancel their opening pre-season friendly at Berwick Rangers’ Shielfield Park last night because of a Covid outbreak at the Tynecastle club which has forced five players to self-isolate. Sportsmail understands there is not

believed to be a link between the two outbreaks despite the scotland rugby team and hearts sharing the same training complex at the oriam in edinburgh. scotland interim head coach Mike Blair has called up five replacements for tomorrow’s a fixture; wasps scrum-half Ben Vellacott, edinburgh centre George taylor, saracens second row Callum hunter-hill, prop d’arcy rae and centre stafford Mcdowall, both of Glasgow warriors. the scots were due to travel to Leicester on thursday but the trip was postponed as a precaution while the entire squad and management team were retested. the srU confirmed no further positive results had been returned from the playing group and the squad were travelling south yesterday. Former scotland scrum-half Blair was due to name his side yesterday but that has been pushed back until this morning. an srU spokesman said: ‘our thursday travel to Leicester was postponed as a precaution and the entire squad and management team were PCr tested early on thursday morning. ‘no further positive results were returned from the playing group. Consequently, this week’s team announcement has been re-scheduled for 10.30am tomorrow (saturday) to allow time for travel. ‘scottish rugby continues to operate an extensive health and safety coronavirus mitigation plan and follow all respective health guidance aligned through scottish rugby’s threat Management Group. ‘this sunday’s a international fixture against england a at Mattioli woods

welford road is still scheduled to go ahead as planned.’ scotland head coach Gregor townsend and assistant steve tandy are both on duty with the British and irish Lions ahead of today’s game against Japan at Bt Murrayfield. asked about the Covid-19 outbreak which has affected the scots, tandy said yesterday: ‘it’s a very timely reminder of how it works because it can creep in quite easily.’ scotland winger duhan van der Merwe, who will line up for the Lions today, believes the outbreak showed why it is so vital for everyone to keep following Covid guidelines. ‘it just shows you that Covid is still

around,’ he said. ‘we’ve been wearing masks all over, we get tested two or three times a week as well. we’re in our own bubble. My girlfriend is staying four minutes away and i can’t see her. everyone’s in the same boat.’ hearts’ preparations for their Premiership return have also been dealt a blow following their Covid outbreak. robbie neilson’s Championship winners were due to travel to shielfield Park to take on Berwick rangers. But it was called off, and today’s pre-season friendly with Linlithgow rose was also hanging in the balance as the club awaited instructions from the sFa. the club said in a statement: ‘hearts’ pre-season friendly match against Berwick rangers tonight has been cancelled due to positive Covid-19 tests at the club’s training base. ‘Five members of hearts’ football department are now self-isolating in line with Covid-19 guidelines after returning positive lateral flow and PCr tests. ‘the club immediately contacted the relevant football authorities upon confirmation of each positive test and it continues to follow protocols to the highest of standards. ‘we have also kept our opponents fully informed and it is with regret to our supporters that we will not begin our pre-season friendly campaign as scheduled. an update on the club’s friendly match with Linlithgow rose, scheduled for saturday (June) 26, will be provided in due course.’ hearts kick off the new campaign in just two weeks when they face Peterhead at Balmoor in their opening Premier sports Cup clash on July 10. neilson’s side will then mark their return to top-flight action when Celtic visit tynecastle on July 31.