The Sharks have been left “saddened” at the news that their home Super Rugby Unlocked clash against the Stormers on Saturday has been cancelled.
SA Rugby issued a statement on Tuesday confirming the match at Kings Park would not be going ahead after, curiously, a number of the Sharks’ tighthead props tested positive for Covid-19.
CANCELLATION HANDED TITLE TO THE BULLS
The news effectively ended all hope the Sharks had of winning the inaugural Super Rugby Unlocked title – and handed the trophy to the Bulls.
The Sharks needed to beat the Stormers and hope for a Pumas upset victory over the Bulls – if that match even goes ahead.
Now, as things stand, the Sharks will finish the season in third place in the standings.
“The Sharks are obviously saddened by the cancellation of the match as we looked forward to hosting the Stormers at Kings Park this Saturday,” the KwaZulu-Natal union said in a statement.
“We stringently follow the protocols set out by SARU and the National Institute for Communicable Diseases (NICD), and line with that protocol this decision was best for everyone concerned.
“Safety remains our No 1 priority and those that have tested positive in the team are isolating and will be monitored by our team doctor. The Sharks remain committed to fielding a competitive team for the start of the Currie Cup next week.”
SA Rugby also confirmed they had rescheduled the Friday Bulls v Pumas match for a yet-to-be-confirmed kick-off time on Saturday and said the Pumas will be re-tested on Thursday with the test results known on Friday.
The Cheetahs v Griquas clash on Saturday in Bloemfontein (16:30) will still go ahead (at time of publication).
