Provisional Premiership Return Date ?

[sapajo]

I do not see professional sport being somewhere near the front of the queue for NHS testing anytime soon.

[Scott1]

I do not see professional sport being somewhere near the front of the queue for NHS testing anytime soon.

It wouldn't surprise me with football at all!

[Cardiff Tig]

I do not see professional sport being somewhere near the front of the queue for NHS testing anytime soon.

Front of the queue is the wrong terminology clearly but it wouldn't need a huge amount of testing for rugby to get restarted.

Some rough numbers - 1000 tests would cover the squads, coaches and team medics? Then 100 tests for the match day refs? So hopefully the system will be able to cope with that. Obviously, it needs paramedics/ambulances etc so it's more complicated but I don't think it will be too long before sport is back on TV with no crowds.

[mol2]

Sounds simple - but what if you get a positive test?

Lockdown the team?
If multiple games are played at a single venue on the same day there is the potential for someone to test positive a day or two later and then what happens do all the squads go into lockdown?

It might prove more practical in terms of wider spreading to play the games at the intended venue or at a limited number of venues to minimise the logistics for the TV crews.

[sapajo]

I do not see professional sport being somewhere near the front of the queue for NHS testing anytime soon.

It wouldn't surprise me with football at all!

Can clubs force players to play? What happens if a player gets Covid will he take legal action? What happens to the competition if the team and or squad have to go into isolation ? Contrary to what some may think its more than just testing, there are serious ongoing issues which as yet remain unresolved.

[Cardiff Tig]

I do not see professional sport being somewhere near the front of the queue for NHS testing anytime soon.

It wouldn't surprise me with football at all!

Can clubs force players to play? What happens if a player gets Covid will he take legal action? What happens to the competition if the team and or squad have to go into isolation ? Contrary to what some may think its more than just testing, there are serious ongoing issues which as yet remain unresolved.

It's incredibly complex. But a lot of those questions will be down to the rugby authorities rather than the government once the testing capacity and medical cover can be provided to the squads.

[Tigerbeat]

One of the other issues is that the Ambulance Service will need to be available for matches which may be a barrier to a restart.

[Tiglon]

It's not the front of the queue for NHS testing, it's the front of the queue for being able to buy testing equipment/kits when there is spare capacity, as I understand it.

I assume that players' associations, competitions, clubs, unions etc would all have to agree to a restart. What's more likely, a rugby player getting Covid while playing rugby and being seriously ill from it, or sustaining a serious injury? I'm sure if any players don't want to be involved then the clubs will have to deal with that as and when it comes up, but I can't see many taking that stance, particularly if everyone is tested before hand.

The thing with catching covid is that you can't prove where you got it from. So how could you sue your club if you can;t prove that you caught it while playing rugby?

[sapajo]

Testing for Covid is the same as an MOT certificate, ie its only valid on the day its conducted. Furthermore the cost of maintaining and conducting a Covid testing programme until such times when a vaccine becomes available would be prohibitive.

[chewbacca]

Testing for Covid is the same as an MOT certificate, ie its only valid on the day its conducted. Furthermore the cost of maintaining and conducting a Covid testing programme until such times when a vaccine becomes available would be prohibitive.

Indeed and it would require a rapid test ideally carried out on the day of the game but even then somebody with a low virus load at the time may test negative although still be infectious.

[Tigerbeat]

Just seen on Facebook a picture of Baths Rec and the whole pitch looks as though it is in the process of being reseeded..........guess if that is the case, they may know more than what is being said publicly.

[Tiglon]

Testing for Covid is the same as an MOT certificate, ie its only valid on the day its conducted. Furthermore the cost of maintaining and conducting a Covid testing programme until such times when a vaccine becomes available would be prohibitive.

Indeed and it would require a rapid test ideally carried out on the day of the game but even then somebody with a low virus load at the time may test negative although still be infectious.

No, it won't be cheap and, no, it won't be completely flawless. But it might be the best (or only) option available.

[JP14]

Just seen on Facebook a picture of Baths Rec and the whole pitch looks as though it is in the process of being reseeded..........guess if that is the case, they may know more than what is being said publicly.

Interesting, but maybe Bath are pushing the initiative? It’s true there might be information behind withheld behind closed doors, but in this scenario I would suggest that’s for the better.

[JP14]

One of the other issues is that the Ambulance Service will need to be available for matches which may be a barrier to a restart.

If the downward trend continues and there isn’t a second peak, for example Italy and Spain have yet to see a resurgence, then by July it could be feasible for ambulances to be available for rugby matches.

[Tigerbeat]

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/rugby-union/52455717