Former Scotland international sends out warning after being 'floored' by coronavirus

Former Scotland international Rory Lawson has issued a warning targeted at younger people as he battles coronavirus in quarantine.

The 39-year-old, who represented Scotland 31 times between 2006 and 2012, revealed on Twitter that his temperature shot up to 38.8 degrees and that he had suffered “sweats, shivers, body aches, cough, sore throat”.

Lawson also said that he had been left “short of breath, physically drained” and unable to smell or taste anything after contracting the virus.

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The former halfback, who is the son of ex-Scotland international Alan Lawson and grandson of the late legendary broadcaster Bill McLaren, said he hoped he is through the worst of it, but warned the virus “is like nothing I’ve had before”.

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“It doesn’t care if you’re young or old, fit or not. Yes, it preys on the vulnerable but it can attack anyone and it floors plenty.”

Lawson went on to label Britain’s National Health Service workers as “heroes”, and called on the public to do their bit to support them.

He said he was one of the “‘low-risk’ people”, but  “wouldn’t wish Coronavirus on anyone”.

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Now working as a freelance sports broadcaster, Lawson played for Edinburgh, Gloucester and Newcastle over 11 seasons before retiring from all rugby in 2013 due to a chronic wrist injury.

He played in two World Cups at France 2007 and New Zealand 2011.

Lawson isn’t the only high-profile rugby figure to be impacted by COVID-19, as ex-England and British and Irish Lions star Will Greenwood announced the passing of his aunt on Saturday after she contracted the virus.

As it stands, there have been nearly 5700 confirmed cases of coronavirus in the United Kingdom, leading to 281 deaths.

Just over 5300 of those cases remain active, with 20 of those patients infected currently in a serious or critical condition.

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