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UK red list announcement throws games into disarray

rugby26 November 2021 04:36| © SuperSport
By:Brenden Nel
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Gareth Davies of Scarlets © Gallo Images

The United Kingdom’s decision to unilaterally impose South Africa and four other countries back onto a travel “red list” has thrown this weekend’s Vodacom United Rugby Championship games into disarray.

Reports out of Wales indicate that both Cardiff, who are due to play the Lions on Sunday, and Scarlets, who will face the Sharks on Saturday are desperately trying to find flights back to the UK to avoid having to undergo a 10 day imposed quarantine in a government hotel, as per the rules.

The UK’s new rules mean anyone arriving after 4am on Sunday into the country has to undergo the 10-day quarantine, and the Welsh regions don’t want to comply with that as they have Champions’ Cup games in two weeks time and the quarantine could hamper their preparations.

The two week set of games, which would kick off this weekend, would see SA Franchises playing their first home games after four games away from home because of the travel restrictions.

The games were first set for Italy but were moved back to SA when the UK took SA off the travel list.

Cardiff welcome holders Toulouse to the Arms Park on Saturday, 11 December, with the Scarlets away to Bristol later the same day.

Getting the squads back home ahead of this Sunday’s cut-off point is all the more problematic as scheduled flights from South Africa are being suspended.

WalesOnline reported both regions were trying to arrange chartered flights for their sides to get home.

Scarlets chairman Simon Muderack tweeted on Thursday night: "Many will have seen the news about the new Covid variant that affects our Scarlets people in South Africa. We are focused on the welfare of our staff in South Africa and the concern of their families at home. We are exploring all options to repatriate our people asap."

There is no word about the games for Irish province Munster, who face the Bulls and Italian side Zebre, who face the Stormers. Both games are on Saturday.

On Thursday night the UK announced it had temporarily halted flights from South Africa and five other countries, and said it would refuse entry to South Africans and others who had been in the region in the previous 10 days as a safety measure.

This comes after South Africa identified a variant of the Covid-19 virus - B.1.1.529 in Botswana and within its own borders. The six countries on the UK’s red list for travel, as of Friday are South Africa, Botswana, Lesotho, Eswatini, Namibia, Zimbabwe.

"From midday on Friday 26 November, non-UK and Irish residents who have been in these countries in the previous 10 days will be refused entry into England," said the UK government. "This does not apply to those who have stayed airside and only transited through any of these countries while changing flights."

Managed quarantine stays in government facilities are charged at around R49000 for the 10 day stay.

"The UK government thanks the government of South Africa for its surveillance of this variant and its transparency," the UK government said.

More announcements are expected through the day.

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