Cardiff and Scarlets could face SA return minus their big stars
CARDIFF Rugby and Scarlets are set to go back to South Africa later this season, without their top international stars.
It has been confirmed by the United Rugby Championship that their rescheduled trips to the country will now take place on the same weekends of rounds four and five of the Six Nations, when Wales take on France and then Italy.
That means they will be without their Wales internationals for the two matches, while their hosts will have their Springbok stars available to them.
The Scarlets will face the Sharks on weekend of March 11/12/13 followed by a meeting with the Bulls a week later.
Cardiff, meanwhile, will go up against the Lions first followed by the Stormers.
However, it is yet to be confirmed where these games will take place but, as long as South Africa is not on the UK Government’s red travel list, it is difficult to see what grounds the URC would have for moving the location of the fixtures.
There may have been little other choice for tournament organisers with an already congested fixture schedule complicated further by mass postponements in the Champions and Challenge Cups this weekend.
But it’s another blow for both teams, who were in the country to play those fixtures at the end of last month before they were hastily postponed as the UK Government put South Africa on the red list with no warning.
Both sides had to scramble to get home, with mixed results.
Scarlets got to Belfast within a few days and completed their 10-day isolation period before returning home in December 10.
Cardiff, however, have only just seen the last of their touring party return home.
Given the situations they encountered, the Scarlets had to forfeit their Champions Cup match with Bristol as they could not raise a side.
Cardiff had to slap together a team made up of Wales stars that didn’t travel to South Africa, semi-pro players and academy boys for fixtures against European champions Toulouse and English champions Harlequins, which they lost quite comfortably despite spirited showings.
It should be noted that South African franchises had to begin the season without their Springbok stars due to the Rugby Championship. But given Cardiff and Scarlets were due to have the internationals available for these matches originally, it’s a bitter pill to swallow after a tumultuous few weeks.
In the new fixtures released by the URC, no team will cross hemispheres until Zebre, Leinster, Benetton and Connacht welcome South Africa opposition on February 25 and 26.
In a statement, URC said: “The URC is fully committed to playing all games as scheduled but will ensure that the welfare of teams and players comes first.
“The league is greatly encouraged by the decision of the UK government to ease travel restrictions with respect to South Africa and will continue to comply with directions set out by the health authorities and government departments in our various jurisdictions.
“The URC Medical Advisory Group will continue to provide regular guidance and updates to our Clubs regarding best practice and health and safety measures in relation to Covid-19 protocols.”
The Ospreys and Dragons travel to South Africa at the end of March.