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
It couldn’t have been Ryan Crotty. He wasn’t selected in either World Cup side - they chose Money Bill instead. And Money Bill only cared about himself, and that manager he had, not the team.
25 Go to commentsYawn 🥱 nobody would give a hoot about this new trophy. End of the day we just have to beat Ireland and NZ this year then they can finally shut up 🤐
13 Go to commentsTalking bout Ryan Crotty? Heard Crotty say in a interview once that SBW doesen't care about the team . He went on to say that whenever they lost a big game, SBW would be happy as if nothing happened, according to him someone who cares would look down.. Personally I think Crotty is in the wrong, not for feeling gutted but for expecting others 2 be like him… I have been a bad loser forever as it matters so much to me but good on you SBW for being able to see the bigger picture….
25 Go to commentsThis sounds like a WWE idea so Americans can also get excited about rugby, RUGBY NEEDS A INTERNATIONAL CALENDER .. The rugby Championship and Six Nations can be held at same time, top 3 of six nations and top 3 of Rugby championship (6 nations should include Georgia AND another qualifying country while Fiji, Japan and Samoa/Tonga qualifier should make out 6 Southern teams).. Scrap June internationals and year end tours. Have a Elite top six Cup and the Bottom 6 in a secondary comp….
13 Go to commentsThe rugby championship would be even stronger with Fiji in it… I know it doesen’t fit the long term plans of NZ or Aus but you are robbing a whole nation of being able to see their best players play for Fiji…. Every second player in NZ and AUS teams has Fijian surnames… shame on you!!! World rugby won’t step in either as France and England has now also joined in…. I guess where money is involved it will always be the poor countries missing out….
77 Go to commentsNo surprise there. How hard can it be to pick a ball off the ground and chuck it to a mate? 😂
2 Go to commentsSometimes people just like a moan mate!
1 Go to commentsexcellent idea ! rugby needs this 💪
13 Go to comments9 Brumbies! What a joke! The best performing team in Oz! Ditch Skelton for Swain or Neville. Ryan Lonergan ahead of McDermott any day! Best selection bolter is Toole … amazing player
12 Go to commentsI like this, but ultimately rugby already has enough trophies. Trying to make more games “consequential" might prove to be a fools errand, although this is a less bad idea than some others. Minor quibble with the title of the article; it isn’t very meaningful to say the boks are the unofficial world champions when it would be functionally impossible for the Raeburn trophy not to be held by the world champions. There’s a period of a few months every 4 years when there is no “unofficial” world champion, and the Raeburn trophy is held by the actual world champions.
13 Go to commentsIts a great idea but one that I dont think will have a lot of traction. It will depend on the prestige that they each hold but if you can do that it would be great. When Japan beat the Boks (my team) I was absolutely devestated but I wont deny the great game they played that day. We were outclassed and it was one of the best games of rugby I have seen. Using an idea like this you might just give the the underdog teams more of an opportunity to beat the big teams and I can absolutely see it being a brilliant display of rugby. They beat us because they planned for that game. It was a great moment for Japan. This way we can remove the 4 year wait and give teams something to aim for outside of World Cup years.
13 Go to commentsHi, Dave here. Happy to answer questions 🥰
13 Go to commentsDon’t think that headline is accurate. It’s great to see Aus doing better but I’m not sure they’ve shown much threat to the top of the table. They shouldn’t be inflating wins against the lousy Highlanders and Crusaders either.
3 Go to commentsSuch a shame Roigard and Aumua picked up long term injuries, probably the two form players in the comp. Also, pretty sure Clarke Dermody isn’t their coach. Got it half right though.
3 Go to commentsOh the Aussie media, they never learn. At least Andrew Kellaway is like “Woah, yeah it’s great, but settle down there guys” having endured years of the Aussie media, fans, and often their players getting ahead of themselves only to fall flat on their faces. Have the “We'll win the Bledisloe for sure this year!” headlines started yet? It’s simple to see what’s going on. The Aussie teams are settled, they didn't lose any of their major players overseas. The Crusaders and Chiefs lost key experienced All Blacks, and Razor in the Crusaders case, and clearly neither are anywhere near as strong as last year (The Canes and Blues would probably be 3rd & 4th if they were). The Highlanders are annually average, even more so post-Aaron Smith and a big squad clean out. The two teams at the top? The two nz sides with largely the same settled roster as last year, except Ardie Savea for the Canes. They’ve both got far better coaches now too. If the Aussies are going to win the title, this is the year the kiwi sides will be weakest, so they better take their chance.
3 Go to commentsThe World Cup has to be the gold standard, line in the sand. 113 teams compete for what is the opportunity to make the pool stages, and then the knockout games for the trophy. The concept is sound. This must have been the rationale when the World Cup was created, surely? But I’m all for Looking forward and finding new ways for the SH to dominate the NH into the future. The autumn series needs a change up. Let’s start by having the NH teams come south every odd year for the Autumn/Spring series games?
13 Go to commentsWhat’ll happen when the AI models of the future go back in time and try to destroy the AI models of the past standing in their way of certain victory?
44 Go to commentsThanks, Nick. We (Seanny Maloney, Brett and I) just discussed Charlie as a potential Wallaby No 8, and wondered if he has truly realised how big he is in contact (and whether he can add 5 kg w/o slowing down). Your scouting report confirms our suspicions he has the materiel. No one knows if he has the mentality (as Johann van Graan said this week about CJ, Duane and Alfie B) to carry 10-15 times a game.
57 Go to commentsHe would be a great player for the Stormers, Dobbo should approach the guy.
3 Go to commentsGood article. A few years back when he was playing for the Cheetahs, he was a quiet standout for exactly the seasons stated here. I occasionally get to see his games in the UK, and he has become a more complete player and in many ways like an Irish player. His work ethic is so suitable to the Leinster game. I wonder if Rassie would have him listed somewhere.
3 Go to comments