32 Cardiff Rugby players are in isolation due to Covid
PLAYERS and staff from Cardiff RFC will represent professional club Cardiff Rugby again this weekend as they fill in for the Covid-isolating regulars.
Cardiff Rugby play Harlequins in the Champions Cup on Saturday and a severe player and staff shortage will once again see semi-pros from Cardiff RFC called up.
As a result, the Rags’ away game against Swansea has been cancelled.
A club statement said: “Many of our team that played so well against Toulouse are required for the game against the Harlequins.
“We apologise to those that had planned to make the trip to St Helens, a new date will be posted here once we know.
“We wish all players and coaching staff well on their trip to The Stoop.”
Players and coaching staff from Cardiff RFC featured for their sister-club Cardiff Rugby in a 7-39 loss to reigning European champions Toulouse on Saturday 11.
Cardiff Rugby were missing 48 employees including 32 players after their South Africa training camp Covid saga.
Cardiff RFC’s Alex Everett, a recruitment consultant, and Evan Yardley, a teacher at Blaengarw Primary School in Bridgend, started on the bench.
They faced a full-strength Toulouse side which featured French-internationals Romain Ntamack, Maxime Médard and newly crowned World Rugby Player of the Year, Antoine Dupont.
Former Cardiff Rugby man, Dan Fish, who now plays for Cardiff RFC, returned to the starting line-up of his former club.
The 10,000 strong crowd chanted “feed the Fish” as the 30-year-old utility player once again came out of retirement to play at the professional level.
Academy players Theo Cabango, brother of Swansea City defender Ben, and Jacob Beetham who have both featured for Cardiff RFC this year, made their professional debuts.
Beetham was given a standing-ovation by the Arms Park after he was shown a contentious red card after 70 minutes for a shoulder to the head during a tackle.
Speaking to BT Sport after the game Cardiff Rugby captain Ellis Jenkins said: “I can’t thank the boys who stepped in this week enough.
“Monday morning they didn’t know anything about it.
“Some boys will be going back to school tomorrow, some of them are in school and some are teaching.
“I can’t speak highly enough of them.”
Cardiff RFC’s next scheduled game is against Pontypridd at home on December 27 in the Indigo Premiership.
You can read The Cardiffian’s preview of Cardiff Rugby’s match against Harlequins here.
