31 positive tests in latest round of Premiership testing
Premiership Rugby have unveiled the results from its latest round of Covid-19 testing and none of the 19 Sale players and staff who failed a test last week, throwing the Premiership into chaos, had recovered sufficiently to pass the follow-up test on Tuesday.
That latest test this week revealed a further eight people at Sale had tested positive, bringing to 27 the number of cases at the Manchester club which resulted in the cancellation of their rescheduled Premiership match against Worcester.
The awarding of the match points to the Warriors resulted in Bath qualifying for this Saturday’s semi-finals and left Sale to rue what might have been following a chaotic episode in the chequered history of the league in England.
With six clubs potentially having a match left to play this weekend at the time of testing, 441 players and staff across the Premiership were tested on Tuesday and the league have now reported that 31 people from three different clubs tested positive for Covid-19.
A statement released on Thursday night regarding the week 14 round of testing read: “Premiership Rugby can today confirm that on Tuesday, October 6, 441 players and club staff from Premiership clubs were tested as part of the Covid-19 screening programme.
“As rugby clubs around the country we are probably in our most dangerous period – and I include us in that”
– The feeling from Exeter as the 2019/20 season comes down to the wire in England and Europe with instances of Covid-19 on the rise at large https://t.co/YWu90Lb0tk
— RugbyPass (@RugbyPass) October 8, 2020
“Of those who were tested 31 people – from three different clubs – tested positive. Twenty-six of those who tested positive were players and five members of staff. Included within the 441 tests were 19 retests for those players and staff members who tested positive last week at Sale Sharks. All of those 19 tests were positive.
“Those who tested positive and their close contacts are isolated and assessed in line with the PHE-agreed guidelines. The positive cases do not affect the staging of this weekend’s Gallagher Premiership Rugby semi-finals and both of those go ahead.”
PREMIERSHIP COVID-19 TESTING RESULTS
Week One (6 July) – 804 players and club staff were tested. Of these, ten people tested positive. Of those ten, six were players and four were members of staff
Week Two (13 July) – 856 players and club staff were tested. Of these, nine people tested positive. Of those nine, seven were players and two were members of staff.
Week Three (20 July) – 896 players and club staff were tested. Of these, two players tested positive.
Week Four (27 July) – 846 players and club staff were tested. Of these, five people tested positive. Of those five, four were players and one was a member of staff.
Week Five (3 August) – 917 players and club staff were tested. Of these, two people tested positive. Of those two, one was a player and one was a member of staff.
Week Six 1 (10 August) – 989 players and club staff were tested. Of those four people tested positive. Of those four, one was a player and three were members of staff.
Week Six 2 (12 August) – 956 players and club staff were tested. Of those seven people tested positive. Of those seven, five are players and two are members of staff.
Week Seven(19 August) – 1,043 players and club staff were tested. Of those one player tested positive.
Week Eight 1 (24 August) – 1,042 players and club staff were tested. Of those one player tested positive.
Week Eight 2 (27 August) – 1,025 players and club staff were tested. There were no positive tests.
Week Nine (2 September) – 1,077 players and club staff were tested. Of those one player tested positive.
Week Ten 1 (7 September) – 1,032 players and club staff were tested. Of those two players and five members of staff tested positive.
Week Ten 2 (10 September) – 1,031 players and club staff were tested. Of those six players and six members of staff tested positive.
Week 11 (16 September) – 990 players and club staff were tested. Of those two players tested positive.
Week 12 (22 September) – 1,056 players and club staff were tested. Of those, four players and one member of staff tested positive.
Week 13 (1 October ) – 972 players and club staff were tested. Of those, 18 players and three members of staff tested positive.
Week 14 (6 October) – 441 players and club staff were tested. Of those, 26 players and five members of staff tested positive. Included within the 441 tests were 19 retests for those players and staff members who tested positive last week at Sale Sharks. All of those 19 tests were positive.
This week has eventually turned out well for Bath, but only after a cagey 48 hours https://t.co/vKAXl3pSdH
— RugbyPass (@RugbyPass) October 8, 2020
Comments on RugbyPass
“But with an exceptional pass accuracy rating “ Which apart from Roigard is not a feature of any of the other 9s in NZ. Kind of basic for a Black 9 dont.you. think? Yet we keep seeing FC and TJ being rated ahead of him? Weird if it’s seen as vital to get our backline beating in your face defences.
1 Go to commentsThanks BeeMc! Looks like many teams need extra time to settle from the quadrennial northern migration. I think generally the quality of the Rugby has held up. Fiji has been fantastic and fun to watch
13 Go to commentsLets compare apples with apples. Lyon sent weak team the week before, but nobody raised an eyebrow. Give the South African teams a few years to build their depth, then you will be moaning that the teams are too strong.
41 Go to commentsDid footballs agents also perform the scout role at some time? I’m surprised more high profile players haven’t taken up the occupation, great way to remain in the game and use all that experience without really requiring a lot of specific expertise?
1 Go to commentsSuper rugby is struggling but that has little to do with sabbaticals. 1. Too many teams from Aust and NZ - should be 3 and 4 respectively, add in 2 from Japan, 1 possibly 2 from Argentina. 2. Inconsistent and poor refereeing, admittedly not restricted to Super rugby. Only one team was reffed at the breakdown in Reds v H’Landers match. Scrum penalty awarded in Canes v Drua when No 8 had the ball in the open with little defence nearby - ideal opportunity to play advantage. Coming back to Reds match - same scrum situation but ref played advantage - Landers made 10 yards and were penalised at the breakdown when the ref should have returned to scrum penalty. 3. Marketing is weak and losing ground to AFL and NRL. Playing 2 days compared with 4. 4. Scheduling is unattractive to family attendance. Have any franchises heard of Sundays 2pm?
11 Go to commentsAbsolutely..all they need is a chance in yhe playoffs and I bet all the other teams will be nervous…THEY KNOW HOW TO WIN IM THE PLAYOFFS..
2 Go to commentsI really hope he comes back and helps out with some coaching.
1 Go to commentsI think we are all just hoping that the Olympic 7s doesn’t suffer the same sad fate as the last RWC with the officials ruining the spectacle.
1 Go to commentsPersonally, I’ve lost the will to even be bothered about the RFU, the structure, the participants. It’s all a sham. I now simply enjoy getting a group of friends together to go and watch a few games a year in different locations (including Europe, the championship, etc). I feel extremely sorry for the real fans of these clubs who are constantly ignored by the RFU and other administrators. I feel especially sorry for the fans of clubs in the Championship who have had considerable central funding stripped away and are then expected to just take whatever the RFU put to them. Its all a sham, especially if the failed clubs are allowed to return.
10 Go to commentsI’m guessing Carl Hayman would have preferred to have stayed in NZ with benefit of hindsight. Up north there is the expectation to play twice as many games with far less ‘player management’ protocols that Paul is now criticising. Less playing through concussions means longer, healthier, careers. Carter used as the eg here by Paul, his sabbatical allowed him to play until age 37. OK its not an exact science but there is far more expectations on players who sign for Top 14 or Engl Prem clubs to get value for the huge salaries. NZR get alot wrong but keeping their best players in NZ rugby is not one of them. SA clubs are virtually devoid of their top players now, no thanks. They cant threaten the big teams in the Champions Cup, the squads have little depth. Cant see Canes/Chiefs struggling. Super has been great this year, fantastic high skill matches. Drua a fantastic addition and Jaguares will add another quality team eventually. Aus teams performing strongly and no doubt will benefit with the incentive of a Lions tour and a home RWC. Let Jordie enjoy his time with Leinster, it will allow the opportunity for another player to emerge at Canes in his absence.
11 Go to commentsLove that man, his way to despise angry little men is so funny ! 😂
4 Go to comments“South African franchises would be powerhouses if we had all our overseas based players back in situ. We would have the same unbeatable aura the Toulouses, Leinsters or Saracens of this world have had over the last decade or so.” Proof that Jake white does not understand the economics of the game in SA. Players earning abroad are not going to simply come back and represent the bulls. But they might if they have a springbok contract.
24 Go to commentsA lot of fans just joined in for the fun of it! We all admire O'Gara and what he has done for La Rochelle
4 Go to commentsThe RFU will find a way to mess this up as usual. My bet is there will be no promotion into the the Premiership, only relegation into National League One. Hopefully they won’t parachute failed clubs into the league at the expense of clubs who have battled for promotion.
10 Go to commentsWell that’s the contracts for RG and Jordie bought and paid for. Now, what are the chances we can persuade Antoine to hop over with all the extra dosh we’ll have from living at the Aviva & Croke next season…??? 🤑🤑🤑
35 Go to commentsWow, that’s incredible. Great for rugby.
35 Go to commentsYou probably read that parling is going to coach the wallaby lineout but if not before now you have.
17 Go to commentsIf someone like Leo Cullen was in O’Gara’s place I don’t hear Boo-ing. It’s not just that La Rochelle has hurt Leinster and O’Gara is their Irish boss. It’s the needle that he brings and the pantomime activity before the game around pretending that Munster were supporting LaRochelle just because O’Gara is from Cork. That’s dividing Irish provinces just to get an advantage for his French Team. He can F*ck right off with that. BOOOOO! (but not while someone is lying injured)
4 Go to commentsDid the highlanders party too hard before the game? They were the pits.
1 Go to commentsWhat a player! Not long until he’s in the England side, surely?
5 Go to comments