Lions seeking exemption from hotel quarantine after South Africa tour
Warren Gatland admits the British and Irish Lions will face up to 10 weeks in their bubble environment if they are forced to quarantine on their return from South Africa.
The Lions are seeking elite sport exemption to avoid having to spend 11 nights in a Government-approved hotel on arrival at Heathrow – the requirement for anyone travelling from a country placed on the red list.
Eleven England cricketers including Jos Buttler and Jason Roy are currently quarantining at hotels following their return from the Indian Premier League, which has been suspended because of the escalating coronavirus crisis in India.
Discussions between the Lions and the Government are ongoing with the tourists hoping dispensation will be granted on the grounds they will be operating in a bubble with a regular testing programme in place.
But as it stands they must quarantine and with players meeting up for the first time for a training camp in Jersey in mid-June and returning from South Africa on August 9, Gatland knows his squad are facing an extended period away from home.
The reasons van der Merwe has gone and bagged himself an all-expenses trip home?#LionsRugby #Lions2021 #Lions
https://t.co/G5PjRSGKFX— RugbyPass (@RugbyPass) May 7, 2021
“The big challenge for us is being in the bubble in South Africa and potentially having to quarantine when we come back,” the Lions head coach said. “If you add in the two-week camp before we go it could be up to 10 weeks away and in a bubble.
“The rugby side takes care of itself so it’s important we get the other stuff right and think about the players’ wellbeing and mental health.
“The rugby’s going to be the easy part. We need to get the other stuff right and then we’ve got a chance of performing on the field.”
Players being required to quarantine for 10 full days on their return could create further conflict between the Lions and Gallagher Premiership clubs, who will face additional time without their stars.
The top flight only last week agreed to release players for the Jersey camp and warm-up Test against Japan at Murrayfield on June 26 and will baulk at the prospect of another 10 days being added to the extended mandatory rest period for England’s Lions.
There was even a French threat this week to cut off the island's electricity supply… they provide 95 per cent of it ?#LionsRugby #Lions2021 #Lions
https://t.co/rBN7UhJfR2— RugbyPass (@RugbyPass) May 7, 2021
The tourists hope to publish their revised schedule for South Africa next week with the eight fixtures culminating in a three-Test series against the Springboks now taking place in Johannesburg and Cape Town only, reducing travel amid the pandemic.
Gatland, who on Thursday announced a 37-man squad captained by Alun Wyn Jones, admits this tour will provide unique challenges.
“The safety of the players is paramount and the mental health of the players comes first,” Gatland said.
“Being in that bubble, being away from family, it will be about making sure we stay connected with our families.
What counted against Sincks and Billy V…#LionsRugby #Lions2021 #Lions
https://t.co/vI6HCACORg— RugbyPass (@RugbyPass) May 7, 2021
“We’ll have to keep the players entertained, put things on for them – competitions, pool, darts, cards, casino nights, sing songs, quizzes. We’ve got to be creative in that area.
“We’ll probably continue with the singing and choir practice that we’ve done in the past. That was successful for us. Those kinds of things are something that we need to get right.
“Can we go to a restaurant and take over the whole place? Can we go to a bar and how do we do that safely? Are the players able to go and play golf or go fishing on a day off?
“I’ll be guided by the medical advice on the things that we can do and the protocols.
“Those are the challenges for us and if we get that right then we’ve got a good chance of doing well on tour.”
Comments on RugbyPass
“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.
22 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
3 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.
2 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…??? 🤑🤑🤑
3 Go to commentsWow, that’s incredible. Great for rugby.
3 Go to commentsYou probably read that parling is going to coach the wallaby lineout but if not before now you have.
14 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)
3 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?
2 Go to commentsHe seems to have the same aura as Marcus Smith - by which I mean he’s consistently judged as if he’s several years younger than he actually is. Mngomezulu has played 24 times for the Stormers. When Pollard was his age he had played 24 times for South Africa! He has more time to develop, but he has also had time to do some developing already, and he hasn’t demonstrated nearly as much talent in that time as one would expect. If he is a generational talent, then it must be a pretty poor generation.
4 Go to commentsThe greatest Springbok coach of all time is entirely on the money. Rassie and Jacques have given the south african public a great few years, but the success of the springbok selection policy will need to be judged in light of what comes next. The poor condition that the provincial system is currently in doesn’t bode well for the next few years of international rugby, and the insane 2026 schedule that the Boks have lined up could also really harm both provincial and international consistency.
22 Go to commentsJake White is a brilliant coach and a master in the press. This is another masterclass in media relations and PR but its also a very narrow view with arguments that dont always hold water. White wants his team to win, he wants the best players in SA and wants his team competitive. You however have to face up to the reality of a poor exchange rate and big clubs with big budgets. SA Rugby cant compete and unless it can find more money SA players will keep leaving regardless of Springbok eligibility and this happened in 2015 - 2017. Also rugby is not cricket. Cricket has 3 formats and T20 cricket is where the money is at. When it comes to club vs country the IPL is king but that wont happen because the international calendar does not clash with the club calendar in rugby. So the argument about rugby going down the same path as cricket is really a non-starter
22 Go to commentsNZ rugby seem not to have learnt anything from professional rugby. Super rugby was dying and SA left before they died with the competition. SA rugby did a u turn on their approach to international players playing overseas and such players are now selected for Bok teams. As much as each country would love to retain their players playing in local competitions, this is the way the world is evolving my friends. Move with it or stay 20 years behind the times. One more thing. NZ rugby hierarchy think they are the big cheese. Take a more humble approach guys. You do not seem to have your players best interests at heart.
3 Go to commentsBeaches? In Cardiff? Where?
1 Go to commentsHe is right , the Crusaders will be a threat. Scott Barrett, ( particularly), Fergus Burke , Codie Taylor, ( from sabbatical) etc due back soon for the Crusaders. There are others like Zach Gallagher too. People can right the Crusaders off, Top 8 , here we come !!
1 Go to commentsWe will always struggle for money to match the other sides but the least the WRU can do is invest properly in Welsh rugby. Too much has been squandered on vanity projects like the hotel and roof walk amongst others which will never see a massive return. Hanging the 4 pro sides out to dry over the last decade is now coming back to bite the WRU financially as well as on the pitch. You reap what you sow.
1 Go to commentsWhat do you get if you cross a doctor with a fish? A plastic sturgeon
14 Go to commentsWhat happened to feleti Kaitu’u? Hasnt played in a while right?
1 Go to commentsGregor I just can’t agree with you. You are trying to find something that just isn’t there. Jordie Barrett has signed until 2028. By the end of that he would have spent probably 11-12 years on Super Rugby and you say he can’t possibly have one season playing somewhere else. It is absurd. What about this scenario, the NZR play hard ball and he decides to leave and play overseas. How would that affect the competition. There seems to be an agenda by certain journalists to push certain agendas and don’t like it when it’s not to their liking. I fully support the NZR on this. Gregor needs to get a life.
3 Go to commentsHope he stays as believe he can do a great job.
1 Go to comments