SCOTLAND’s match against Georgia, due to take place in Tbilisi a week tomorrow, has been called off following a number of positive Covid tests in the home camp. The decision means that none of the three matches on Scotland’s summer schedule has been able to go ahead.
Interim head coach Mike Blair was due to take charge of the team for an ‘A’ international against England, a full Test against Romania and then the Georgian match. Several uncapped members of Blair’s squad would have been ‘captured’ for Scotland if they had played in any of the three games.
“Scotland men’s team will not travel to face Georgia in Tbilisi next Saturday (17 July) after the match has been cancelled,” Scottish Rugby announced this morning. “Scottish Rugby has worked with World Rugby and the Georgian Union to review the safety implications of travelling to Georgia after their squad reported six positive Covid-19 cases in camp whilst in South Africa this week.
“With Georgia’s Test match against South Africa thereafter called off – and the subsequent need for a 12-day period of isolation and further medical assessment – an agreement has been reached to cancel the match in Tbilisi, as the safety of both teams is paramount.
“Scotland’s squad had returned to graduated training at Oriam Performance Centre this week after a round of negative PCR tests allowed the team to begin preparations ahead of departing for Georgia this weekend. However, with Scotland men’s summer schedule now concluded, players will today (Friday 9 July) be released back to their respective clubs.”
Blair added: “As a playing group and management team, we’re obviously massively disappointed as the Georgia match was a challenge we were looking forward to, especially given that our last two fixtures have been called off.
“However, like all decisions during this pandemic, player welfare must always come first, and our thoughts are certainly with those affected in the Georgian camp as we have been through a similar situation.
“It’s clearly been a frustrating couple of weeks given the positive cases and subsequent cancellations, however I can’t fault the hard work and effort put in by this group of players through what has been a tough period. We’ll see plenty more from them in years to come if they continue with the same drive that we’ve seen in this short time together.”
Real shame. It would have been interesting to see the new players and increase strength in depth. Particularly looking forward to see how Kebble went at tight head against Genge and then the Georgians
Couldn’t they play Romania
Why could we not rearrange the game against Romania for next weekend instead
Wonder how all the other home nations have managed to fulfil their fixtures and not Scotland? Opportunity to assess playing strength missed again!
What the heck did the SRU (with all its “experts”) expect?