Bulls v Lions game in doubt after positive Covid tests

The Vodacom Bulls game against the touring British and Irish Lions on Saturday has been thrown into severe doubt after several positive Covid tests in the team's Loftus Versfeld camp.

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Supersport.com can confirm that several players tested positive for Covid-19 as the team were about to enter their five-day bio bubble on Monday night.

The implications of this for the tour are huge, especially if the game is cancelled as it is unlikely an alternative date would be available for the game to be moved.

While the players who tested positive have been placed in isolation, and one other player who was in close contact has also been isolated, the decision now will rest with the Medical Advisory Committee (MAG), which comprises of medical experts from both the British and Irish Lions and Springbok teams, and the chief executive officers of both the Lions and SA Rugby.

The MAG are already trying to figure out what to do after a Springbok player - Lood de Jager - tested positive for Covid-19 in the Springbok camp on Monday and training was cancelled.

De Jager was said to be in close contact with several other members of the team and the entire squad was placed in isolation.

SA Rugby are due to give more clarity about both situations on Tuesday and there is currently no word whether the Springbok team announcement, set for Tuesday afternoon, will go ahead as planned.

De Jager's positive test was the second time in 10 days the Springbok camp was forced to cancel training because of positive Covid-19 tests. The first was when two players, Vincent Koch and S'bu Nkosi, tested positive when the team assembled in Johannesburg and two more players, who were in close contact with Nkosi, Lukhanyo Am and Makazole Mapimpi, were also placed in isolation. Another player - Herschelle Jantjies - initially tested positive but it was deemed a false positive and he was cleared. Am and Mapimpi have been cleared for selection for Friday night's second test against Georgia.

The Bulls were set to be one of the bigger provincial tests for the Lions after making the final of the Rainbow Cup and are defending Super Rugby Unlocked and Currie Cup champios.