Advertisement
Munster boss Johann van Graan is still isolating back in Ireland. Ryan Byrne/INPHO

Munster confirm positive Covid cases among group who returned to Ireland

Some of the players and staff who arrived back from South Africa have since tested positive.

SOME OF THE Munster squad who returned to Ireland from South Africa last Wednesday have since tested positive for Covid-19, the province has confirmed.

A group of 34 players and staff landed back into the country last week after being given the green light by Irish and South African authorities to depart Cape Town.

Munster left 14 players and staff behind in a quarantine hotel in Cape Town after they had tested positive for Covid during the provinceโ€™s visit to South Africa.

However, Munster have now confirmed that some of the travelling party who returned to Ireland last week have also tested positive for the virus since landing back into the county and entering mandatory self-isolation.

Some of the group have been self-isolating at a hotel in Limerick, with others returning to their homes.

Those positive cases have added another layer of complication to the provinceโ€™s preparations for Sundayโ€™s Champions Cup clash with Wasps, given that there is some hope that Munster could welcome a handful of players back into their matchday squad after they complete isolation this Saturday.

A separate group of Ireland internationals and promising young players โ€“ none of whom travelled to South Africa โ€“ have been preparing for the Wasps game under the guidance of academy boss Ian Costello in Limerick over the past two fortnight.

Munster head coach Johann van Graan confirmed that the bulk of this weekendโ€™s matchday 23 will come from that group.

But van Graan, who is among the group still in isolation at present, confirmed that some of the players and coaches who returned from South Africa could still be involved in the trip to Coventry this weekend.

โ€œThereโ€™s so many dynamics at play here,โ€ said van Graan this afternoon. โ€œAll I will say is that Public Health has been excellent in assisting us. Thereโ€™s a full PCR testing programme going on.

โ€œThere will potentially be certain players available. Weโ€™ve got to announce a team on Friday afternoon, weโ€™ve still got to go and get through training after that, so anything is possible at this stage.

โ€œBut the main message from myself and all the coaches this week is that the whole focus is on the players in the HPC [high performance centre]. If we need any assistance in terms of selection, we will give that but you have to also look at the bigger picture here.

โ€œGuys have been sitting in their hotel rooms for almost two weeks, at home. Some players are sick, others arenโ€™t. It hasnโ€™t been ideal but we are putting all our effort into the players at the HPC. If we can and need to, we will assist from the outside.โ€

ian-costello Ian Costello has been running Munster's prep this week. Ryan Byrne / INPHO Ryan Byrne / INPHO / INPHO

The Munster boss added that โ€œnobody is very sickโ€ as he outlined his pride in how his players have handled this challenge.

Van Graan confirmed that he will pick the team for this weekend but reiterated that Costello is โ€œthe man on the groundโ€ at training in Limerick this week.

Costello returned to Munster from Wasps just last summer, having served as the Premiership clubโ€™s defence coach for three seasons.

Wasps are on a five-game losing streak and missing several key players for this weekend, but Costello is expecting a stern challenge.

โ€œTheyโ€™ll fancy themselves at home,โ€ said Costello. โ€œTheyโ€™re a really good side on their day despite their form. Theyโ€™ve got some really good individuals, a really exciting brand of rugby.

โ€œOur focus has to be completely on us because weโ€™re just pulling together as a team at the moment.

โ€œWeโ€™re dropping in little bits of information and weโ€™re doing work in the background, but we have a lot to get right ourselves in the next couple days. Later in the week, weโ€™ll take a close look at Wasps.โ€

Meanwhile, van Graan confirmed that the players and staff who had to remain in South Africa after positive Covid tests are all being well taken care of.

โ€œTheyโ€™re all in good spirits and weโ€™re all connected,โ€ said van Graan.

โ€œItโ€™s important to know that this isnโ€™t finished, meaning Covid is not going away. Guys are still in hotel rooms at home so this will be an ongoing thing.โ€

Close
12 Comments
This is YOUR comments community. Stay civil, stay constructive, stay on topic. Please familiarise yourself with our comments policy here before taking part.
Leave a Comment
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute G
    Favourite G
    Report
    Oct 16th 2021, 2:56 PM

    Great save by Kelleher near the end. Comfortable afternoon for him

    220
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Robert Clifford
    Favourite Robert Clifford
    Report
    Oct 16th 2021, 2:56 PM

    Top player.

    115
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Ger Power
    Favourite Ger Power
    Report
    Oct 16th 2021, 3:42 PM

    Super performance and result albeit against a woeful Watford. Unlikely to be a worse performance by any PL team this season. Salah is unbelievable and his goal was magical, give him the contract his performances and goals deserve. Great to see Firmino scoring. Though Kelleher had nothing to do he kept his concentration to make a very good save at the end. Gonna be a tight title race. Surprised Salah and Mane played the 90 minutes, Minamino could have done with game time especially against that Watford team.

    76
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Elvis
    Favourite Elvis
    Report
    Oct 16th 2021, 4:49 PM

    Mo Salah is WOW!!! a pleasure to watch himโ€ฆ..Firmino not bad either : )

    59
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute John S
    Favourite John S
    Report
    Oct 16th 2021, 3:11 PM

    Time to sack Ranieriโ€ฆโ€ฆ.

    60
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Heckler davies
    Favourite Heckler davies
    Report
    Oct 16th 2021, 10:05 PM

    @John S: dilly ding dilly dong

    6
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Seร n Mc
    Favourite Seร n Mc
    Report
    Oct 16th 2021, 10:12 PM

    @Heckler davies: dilly ding, dilly gone

    5
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Scott Crossfield
    Favourite Scott Crossfield
    Report
    Oct 16th 2021, 3:12 PM

    Class win and 3 more handy points. We will be hard to stop This season as we put last seasons blip behind us

    48
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute WESHALLNOTBEMOVED
    Favourite WESHALLNOTBEMOVED
    Report
    Oct 16th 2021, 3:01 PM

    Danny Rose will sleep tonight. Great performance against an albeit poor side!!

    47
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Tomas Ryan
    Favourite Tomas Ryan
    Report
    Oct 16th 2021, 4:56 PM

    Give Mo all the money. Almost 0% chance of being able to replace him

    40
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Gerard McAuliffe
    Favourite Gerard McAuliffe
    Report
    Oct 16th 2021, 4:31 PM

    Lewandowski and Salah are the best players in the world on current form.

    35
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Ottomaaan
    Favourite Ottomaaan
    Report
    Oct 16th 2021, 2:59 PM

    I donโ€™t think Iโ€™ve ever seen a PL side as bad as that Watford side todayโ€ฆ.if they lost 10-0 it wouldnโ€™t have been a surprise! Woefulโ€ฆ

    29
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Gordon Larney
    Favourite Gordon Larney
    Report
    Oct 16th 2021, 3:12 PM

    @Ottomaaan: you forgot to mention that they were up against a solid side with a rampant front three, there, I fixed it for youโ€ฆ. :)

    86
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Ottomaaan
    Favourite Ottomaaan
    Report
    Oct 16th 2021, 4:27 PM

    @Gordon Larney: no need to fix anything. That was the worst performance Iโ€™ve ever seen from a PL side, dreadful stuff and Liverpool could have put 10 past them.

    8
    See 1 more reply โ–พ
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute JonnyBgood
    Favourite JonnyBgood
    Report
    Oct 16th 2021, 5:09 PM

    @Ottomaaan: have to agree. I was at the game and never seen such a bad performance from a PL team.

    6
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Finn Faulkner
    Favourite Finn Faulkner
    Report
    Oct 16th 2021, 4:12 PM

    Salah in great form. But how long canhe hold that form? He has 20-25 goals in him a season, but heโ€™s up and down. If he held this form, heโ€™d be close to 40 goals?
    Bigger tests against Athletico and United on the way.

    20
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute len len
    Favourite len len
    Report
    Oct 16th 2021, 4:28 PM

    @Finn Faulkner: did you like your own commentโ€ฆ

    76
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute WESHALLNOTBEMOVED
    Favourite WESHALLNOTBEMOVED
    Report
    Oct 16th 2021, 4:28 PM

    @Finn Faulkner: how long can he do that. ? He has been doing it for the last 4 seasons. 104 goals in 166 games in the Premier league but you think he should score more. Okay so

    99
    See 5 more replies โ–พ
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute John Hayes
    Favourite John Hayes
    Report
    Oct 16th 2021, 5:04 PM

    @Finn Faulkner: youโ€™re gonna need bigger bait on that hook โ€ฆ.

    27
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Finn Faulkner
    Favourite Finn Faulkner
    Report
    Oct 16th 2021, 5:55 PM

    @WESHALLNOTBEMOVED: But by that metric 4 seasons at 40 goals would be 160 goals. He hasn t done that. But my point is that if he can keep that killer hat on his head for a prolonged period, and with our squad almost injury free, he could break records for us. Iโ€™m HOPING he keeps this lethal form indefinitely. He still canโ€™t be put in the Messi/Ronaldo category until he starts being seriously clinical. Iโ€™d love to see him win the Balloon dโ€™Or this year (or the next)

    3
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Finn Faulkner
    Favourite Finn Faulkner
    Report
    Oct 16th 2021, 5:56 PM

    @len len: No, but seeing as you need likes, here, have mine. Have a lovely day.

    6
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Shane Roche
    Favourite Shane Roche
    Report
    Oct 16th 2021, 6:10 PM

    @WESHALLNOTBEMOVED: you included his Chelsea stats there, itโ€™s 102 in 153 for Liverpool

    9
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Finn Faulkner
    Favourite Finn Faulkner
    Report
    Oct 16th 2021, 7:38 PM

    @Shane Roche: Itโ€™s still an amazing number of goals per season, but I think he can go even further, he needs to keep this current form. Biggest tests are against Athletico and then United.

    2
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Victor Feldman
    Favourite Victor Feldman
    Report
    Oct 17th 2021, 1:02 AM

    That salah. Goal was pure roy of the rovers.. Pure art.. He must be a great dancer..

    8
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Seymour business
    Favourite Seymour business
    Report
    Oct 17th 2021, 2:02 AM

    As good as Liverpool are, and they are really good. This in my opinion is all about Klopp.

    5
Submit a report
Please help us understand how this comment violates our community guidelines.
Thank you for the feedback
Your feedback has been sent to our team for review.

Leave a commentcancel