Worcester could SNUB their final Premiership clash with Sale as Sharks face nervous wait for RFU’s verdict over Covid-19 outbreak at the club
Worcester will consider boycotting Wednesday’s rescheduled Premiership match with Sale after raising grave concerns about the background to the Covid-19 outbreak at the Cheshire club.
The Sharks’ title prospects remained on a knife-edge on Monday night, as they awaited a verdict from the RFU about whether they have complied with protocols after learning about 19 positive cases at the club.
While the governing body are concluding a hasty audit of relevant data and training footage, Sale players are due to have a further round of Covid tests on Tuesday morning.
Sale Sharks could see their final Premiership fixture of the season go unplayed on Wednesday
The Sharks announced a 19-man coronavirus outbreak after their Gallagher Cup victory
The expectation is that results won’t be confirmed until the early hours of Wednesday — meaning the game at the AJ Bell Stadium cannot be approved until the day it is due to take place. Sale are adamant they can field a virus-free side, but their opponents have the right to act in their own best interests.
Alan Solomons, the Warriors’ director of rugby, said: ‘The decision has to be taken by Premiership Rugby. I presume the RFU and Public Health England are involved.
‘It’s their decision. Premiership Rugby, the RFU and PHE are responsible for that decision and the consequences. The over-riding factor is the health and safety of all players, staff and their families.
Worcester have admitted they could decide to forgo the fixture as they await the RFU verdict
‘We need now to get some clarity and certainty. Premiership Rugby — working in conjunction with the RFU and PHE — need to make the decision on the right basis.
‘At that point, we will hopefully have all the relevant facts, so we can consider our position properly. There are consequences to any decision, those consequences are wide-ranging — and they include legal consequences.’
Sale reject that the outbreak stems from players and staff celebrating their Premiership Cup victory last month, emphasising subsequent tests all came back negative.
But they later learned of a ‘false negative’ involving an academy player who trained for two days before the error came to light. Sale believe this caused the outbreak and insist the authorities were swiftly notified.
But Solomons said: ‘Sale have 19 individuals who have tested positive for the virus — 16 players and three members of staff. That is a cluster and a red flag. It is an extraordinarily high number.
Sale’s hopes for the entire season are hanging in the balance ahead of their final match-day
‘You have to say it lends credence to what I am reading about late-night celebrations after the Premiership Cup and partying at Manchester Metropolitan University — the university has a lot of students who have tested positive.’
Sale will await clearance to stage the fixture, knowing they face a near-impossible scenario if they do win to reach the play-offs. A bonus-point victory would earn them a semi-final against Wasps in Coventry at 1.30pm on Saturday.
If they beat Worcester but fail to score four tries, they will take on Exeter at Sandy Park later that afternoon. The scheduling means Sale would not be able to select any of the senior players who have tested positive, even if they have no symptoms.