Lions tour of South Africa in crisis as three Springboks test positive for Covid and whole squad forced into isolation

THE LIONS are on red alert after three South African players tested positive for covid and their whole squad went into self isolation.

Fears over whether the tour will go ahead continue to grow with Warren Gatland’s side flying to Johannesburg tonight, with the city expected to be put into a harsher lockdown.

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The Lions are on red alert after three South African players tested positive for Covid[/caption]

South Africa were due to play Georgia on Friday night in Pretoria and that game is now also in doubt.

There are also concerns over playing the series in Gauteng, the state in which both Joburg and Pretoria are found.

Cape Town is less badly hit and it could be that more games are moved south to the coast.

A Springboks statement said: “The Springboks cancelled Sunday’s planned training session in Johannesburg as a precautionary measure when scheduled testing protocols returned three positive COVID-19 test results when the team assembled on Saturday.

“Three players tested positive for the virus following stringent real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR) testing procedures on arrival at the team base.

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“Team management immediately put the squad into self-isolation as a precaution until specialist medical advice is sought from the Castle Lager Lions Series Medical Advisory Group (MAG).

“A decision on further team activities will be made shortly.

“SA Rugby Director of Rugby Rassie Erasmus emphasised that the team had followed all the necessary precautions since the start of the three-week conditioning camp hosted in Bloemfontein, which included mandatory COVID-19 testing three times a week, and that they would be led by specialist advice before any action is taken.”