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Premiership Rugby admit testing error erroneously caused Bath training ground shutdown

By PA
(Photo by Michael Steele/Getty Images)

Premiership Rugby have reported only two cases of coronavirus from the latest round of testing but the procedure was marred by an error in the programme, causing major disruption at Bath. An operator issue at Randox Health’s laboratories meant the number of positive cases was incorrectly reported to the Premiership clubs on Tuesday morning and after discovering the mistake the company updated with the correct figure.

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It comes two days after players and staff at Bath entered self-isolation after being told of an outbreak at the Recreation Ground. Their training ground has also been deep cleaned.

“This issue has created disruption at our clubs and especially at Bath, who had isolated a number of players and temporarily closed their training ground after receiving their results early on Tuesday morning,” said Premiership director of rugby Phil Winstanley.

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“The health and safety of everyone involved with Premiership Rugby is a priority for us so this matter will be thoroughly investigated.”

Weekly testing results are usually published on Wednesday by Premiership Rugby but the mishap results in the numbers emerging a day later. A statement read: “Premiership Rugby can confirm the results of this week’s PCR Covid-19 screening programme.

“On Monday, January 18th, 989 players and management from our twelve clubs were tested as part of the PCR Covid-19 screening programme. Of those who were tested, two players – from two different clubs – tested positive. Those who tested positive and their close contacts are isolated and assessed in line with the PHE-agreed guidelines.

“Premiership Rugby and the RFU are providing this aggregated information for competition integrity and transparency for the second successive season. No specific details as to clubs or individuals will be provided under any circumstances. The number of positive results will be made public after each round of testing.”

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A statement from Bath on Tuesday following the closure of their Farleigh House training ground had read: “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 staff, players and their families. 

“The club has instructed additional testing to take place this Thursday for all players and rugby staff, and again on Monday next week. The training ground is also today undergoing a full deep clean. In line with Government guidelines, Public Health England have been informed. Those players and staff who have tested positive, or who are traced as contacts of those testing positive, will isolate for a minimum of ten days.”

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J
JW 14 minutes ago
'Passionate reunion of France and New Zealand shows Fabien Galthie is wrong to rest his stars'

Where? I remember saying "unders"? The LNR was formed by the FFR, if I said that in a way that meant the 'pro' side of the game didn't have an equal representation/say as the 'amateur' side (FFR remit) that was not my intent.


But also, as it is the governing body, it also has more responsibility. As long as WR looks at FFR as the running body for rugby in France, that 'power' will remain. If the LNR refuses to govern their clubs use of players to enable a request by FFR (from WR) to ensure it's players are able to compete in International rugby takes place they will simply remove their participation. If the players complain to the France's body, either of their health and safety concerns (through playing too many 'minutes' etc) or that they are not allowed to be part in matches of national interest, my understanding is action can be taken against the LNR like it could be any other body/business. I see where you're coming from now re EPCR and the shake up they gave it, yes, that wasn't meant to be a separate statement to say that FFR can threaten them with EPCR expulsion by itself, simply that it would be a strong repercussion for those teams to be removed (no one would want them after the above).


You keep bringing up these other things I cannot understand why. Again, do you think if the LNR were not acting responsibly they would be able to get away with whatever they want (the attitude of these posters saying "they pay the players")? You may deem what theyre doing currently as being irresponsible but most do not. Countries like New Zealand have not even complained about it because they've never had it different, never got things like windfall TV contracts from France, so they can't complain because theyre not missing out on anything. Sure, if the French kept doing things like withholding million dollar game payments, or causing millions of dollars of devaluation in rights, they these things I'm outlining would be taking place. That's not the case currently however, no one here really cares what the French do. It's upto them to sort themselves out if they're not happy. Now, that said, if they did make it obvious to World Rugby that they were never going to send the French side away (like they possibly did stating their intent to exclude 20 targeted players) in July, well then they would simply be given XV fixtures against tier 2 sides during that window and the FFR would need to do things like the 50/50 revenue split to get big teams visiting in Nov.

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