Bath are next to suffer an outbreak

BATH Rugby have been forced to close down their Farleigh House training ground following positive Covid-19 cases at the club just 10 days out from their derby game with Premiership leaders Bristol Bears.

The two sides are due to meet on Friday, January 29 to kick-off Round Seven of the Gallagher Premiership and welcome back professional rugby in England with a bang following the cancellation of the last two rounds of European action last weekend and this one coming.

But an undisclosed number of Bath players and staff have returned positive results following the weekly PCR COVID-19 testing programme run by Premiership Rugby.

All players and rugby staff have been instructed to isolate at their homes and a rigorous contact tracing process is now underway in order to stop the spread of the virus and protect the health and wellbeing of the club’s staff, players and their families.

Those players and staff who have tested positive, or who are traced as contacts of those testing positive, will isolate for a minimum of 10 days.

The club, who are ninth in the 12team division, have instructed additional testing to take place this Thursday for all players and rugby staff, and again on Monday next week.

Farleigh House is undergoing a full deep clean today.

Bath chief executive Tarquin McDonald said: “Our immediate focus is taking care of our people and stopping the spread of the virus.

“We are in regular communication with Premiership Rugby and Public Health England as we manage the situation.

“We will return to training but only when it is safe and appropriate to do so. “

Blue, Black and Whites director of rugby Stuart Hooper added: “This is an anxious time for us all and the mental as well as physical health of our people and their families is our priority.

“Our planned training sessions have been cancelled and those able to train from home will now do so. My team and I are focused on doing all we can to be ready to play our up-and-coming fixtures, but I must reinforce that I will not allow the health of our people to be compromised.

“A decision on our Gallagher Premiership fixture against Bristol Bears will be made in conjunction with Premiership Rugby next week.”