CAPE TOWN (Reuters) -South African sport confronted a shutdown on Friday as a result of detection of a brand new coronavirus variant, with rugby groups scrambling to go away earlier than journey restrictions are imposed and the primary occasion of golf’s new-look DP World Tour beneath menace.
4 rugby groups had been as a consequence of play South African opposition within the United Rugby Championship (URC) however Welsh golf equipment Cardiff and Scarlets stated they had been trying to depart as Britain prepares to impose journey restrictions from 1200 GMT on Friday.
“With the state of affairs in South Africa having modified so shortly, we are actually trying to repatriate our employees ASAP,” Cardiff stated on Twitter.
“For involved households and pals, please relaxation assured that our focus is to make sure the protection and welfare of our folks and can hold you up to date with any developments.”
Scarlets stated they too had been making an attempt to go away as shortly as potential.
Officers informed Reuters on Friday that URC video games can be referred to as off, with an announcement anticipated later.
Cardiff had been as a consequence of play the Lions in Johannesburg on Sunday whereas the Scarlets are in Durban to face the Sharks on Saturday.
There was no phrase on the plans of Irish membership Munster, as a consequence of meet the Bulls in Pretoria on Saturday, or Italy’s Zebre, in Cape City to tackle the Stormers.
They’re the primary golf equipment to reach in South Africa for the reason that onset of the pandemic and the postponement of fixtures will come as a serious blow to the newly launched match involving sides from South Africa, Eire, Itay, Scotland and Wales.
The primary spherical of golf’s Joburg Open resumed at 6 a.m. (0400 GMT) on Friday after a thunderstorm introduced an early finish to play on Thursday.
The second spherical teed off at 7 a.m. however by then 15 British and Irish golfers had already withdrawn.
The occasion is the primary on the schedule of the DP World Tour, previously the European Tour.
On Friday, South Africa are to host the Netherlands within the first of a three-match One Day Worldwide cricket collection.
“At this stage of our planning and preparedness, we’ve not learnt of any developments that relate to the impression of the brand new variant on the inbound internationals,” Cricket South Africa informed Reuters on Friday.
“Ought to there be adjustments to this, CSA will challenge an announcement and recommendation on any deliberate changes.”
South Africa are additionally set to host India subsequent month, with that tour anticipated to be a serious boon to Cricket South Africa’s coffers. India are as a consequence of play three checks over December and January adopted by a restricted overs collection.
(Writing by Mark Gleeson in Cape City; Extra reporting by Nick Stated; Enhancing by Peter Rutherford)
