A portent of things to come between Saracens and England?
Two statements made on the one player in the same day but both telling a different story. Saracens and England have failed to get their ducks in a row regarding Mako Vunipola and a Coronavirus “precaution”.
Last week, both Mako and Billy Vunipola travelled to Tonga to see family during a down week in the 2020 Guinness Six Nations. Part of the brothers’ trip included a ‘short stop at Hong Kong Airport’ and, as such, there were concerns that they could have come in contact with individuals affected by the Coronavirus, which originated in China and has spread worldwide.
On Tuesday, Vunipola was confirmed as absent from England’s squad as they prepared for their weekend game against Wales. An English RFU spokesperson confirmed, “Mako is not in camp on medical grounds. He is not sick, but it is a precaution.”
Here we had the first high profile sporting case, in England or Ireland, of a high profile sportsperson self-isolating after the Covid-19 (Coronavirus) outbreak. Or so it seemed.
Saracens Rugby Club then announced that Vunipola had been training with their senior squad since his return from that trip home to Tonga. A club statement reads:
‘Travellers returning from Hong Kong are not currently subject to mandatory quarantine or self-isolation unless they become symptomatic.
‘Neither Billy or Mako Vunipola have displayed symptoms of the Coronavirus (Covid-19) and on their return to London were assessed by the club’s medical staff. The duo have been around the Saracens environment for the past couple of days, with the latter available for selection this weekend.
‘Saracens will continue to follow the Public Health England and World Health Organisation regulations surrounding coronavirus and the medical staff will be closely monitoring Billy and Mako on a regular basis.’
So, as it stands, Vunipola is in line to play for Sarries on Saturday afternoon, in the Premiership, against Leicester Tigers. Three hours after that game kicks off, England will take on Wales without the British & Irish Lions prop in their matchday squad.
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Barry Murphy and Andrew Trimble are joined in the House of Rugby studio by Jerry Flannery to discuss Ireland’s 35-man squad for the France game, the ongoing fixture conundrum caused by the Coronavirus and look back on a Guinness PRO14 weekend.
