Munster and Cardiff will not be departing from South Africa on Sunday after squad members tested positive for Covid-19.
Munster were set to face the Vodacom Bulls in Pretoria on Saturday, but that game was postponed after the discovery of the new Covid-19 variant called Omicron.
The Munster squad had been undergoing PCR tests in their hotel in Cape Town, when the positive case emerged.
As a result, they will remain in isolation in the hotel. The players and management staff will face a further 10 days of quarantine when they return to Ireland, but it is not yet clear when they will leave South Africa.
A Munster statement read: “After arriving at their hotel in Cape Town late last night the squad underwent a round of PCR testing ahead of today’s possible departure.
“The returning results have identified one positive case.
“In taking all precautions and prioritising the health and well-being of everyone, Munster Rugby will not travel today and will return to their hotel for an isolation period as a matter of priority.
“The province will await further guidance from the health authorities.”
Cardiff, who were set to face the Lions in Johannesburg on Sunday afternoon, have also been unable to leave South Africa after two positive cases.
“The travelling party had hoped to depart Cape Town this afternoon after a charter plane was secured, however PCR tests undertaken last night have returned two positive results,” read a statement.
“As a consequence of one of these results suspected of being Omicron, the entire travelling party have returned to their hotel to isolate.
“Cardiff Rugby continue to work with the South African Rugby Union, the Welsh Rugby Union and public health authorities both at home and abroad to decide the next course of action.
“The club are also continuing to work with all relevant authorities to secure the travelling party’s return to Wales when safe and appropriate.
“Everybody concerned in this highly challenging situation would like to thank their families, friends, colleagues and the wider rugby family for their many messages of concern and well wishes.”
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