It has been confirmed that the Currie Cup 3rd round clash between the Toyota Cheetahs and Bulls in Bloemfontein has been cancelled due to positive Covid19 tests in the Toyota Cheetah camp.
The game which set to kick-off on Wednesday afternoon has been cancelled due to thirteen players and the coach testing positive for Covid-19. Toyota Cheetahs coach, Hawies Fourie, didn’t make the trip to the Northern Cape as he was self-isolating.
Injuries and a number of players and coaching staff who have tested positive for COVID-19 have forced the Toyota Cheetahs to cancel their planned match against the Bulls on Wednesday. The decision was taken in accordance with a directive from SA Rugby (SARU) and protocols for COVID-19. It is impossible to reschedule the match because of the tight fixtures programme. In terms of the rules, the Bulls will receive four points and the Toyota Cheetahs none.
A total of 21 players in the Toyota Cheetah squad are not available. Eleven players are in isolation or part of the return-to-play protocol. Seven are injured and three players are away on national duty. Four members of the coaching staff are in isolation. Injuries amongst junior players rule them out. As a result, the Cheetahs have only twenty players available. The obligatory four props are also not available.
Harold Verster, Managing Director of the Free State Cheetahs, says the recent match between the Cheetahs and Griquas have also affected Griquas because of contact with a COVID-19 positive Cheetah player. “It is sad and regrettable, but something that is out of our hands. We sincerely hope that our neighbouring province will have a full-strength team available on Saturday.”
“The Toyota Cheetahs would have loved to play and were ready until late on Monday. In the end, we had no choice but to cancel the match. It was the right and responsible thing to do, especially given the importance of the health of the players and the forthcoming test series between the Springboks and the British and Irish Lions.”
According to the Covid19 regulations applicable in the 2021 Currie Cup, Vodacom Bulls will receive 4 log points while Toyota Cheetahs will receive none as they are the reason for the cancellation of this fixture.