Bath’s Champions Cup clash against La Rochelle on Saturday has been cancelled with 12 of their players isolating after a positive coronavirus test at Scarlets.
Bath were beaten 23-19 at home by Scarlets in their Champions Cup opener last weekend.
And a statement from the Premiership club on Thursday said: “It is with deep disappointment that we announce the cancellation of this weekend’s Champions Cup fixture against La Rochelle.
“A member of Scarlets Rugby tested positive for COVID-19 this week and as a result, a total of 12 Bath Rugby players from last weekend’s matchday-23 have been named as close contacts and are now in isolation.
“Due to the impact on selection availability of forwards, it is not possible to safely fulfil the fixture on Saturday.
“When informed, Bath Rugby acted immediately to isolate the players concerned and has been in constant communication with Premiership Rugby, the RFU (Rugby Football Union), Public Health England and EPCR (European Professional Club Rugby).”
Bath said EPCR would now meet to decide the result of the fixture.
The news comes after a coronavirus outbreak at Exeter led to the cancellation of their game against Toulouse and Glasgow Warriors’ fixture against Lyon.
Bath also said they had received one positive COVID-19 test this week from “an injured player who is not currently in training” and that “one further player was identified as a close contact”.
Meanwhile New York Giants offensive coordinator and former Dallas Cowboys coach Jason Garrett has tested positive for COVID-19.
The team made an announcement on Thursday and said Garrett will continue to work remotely.
The Giants will not practise Thursday for Sunday night’s game against Cleveland. Tight ends coach Freddie Kitchens will call the offensive plays against the Browns, who fired him as their head coach last season.
The Giants are working with the league’s chief medical officer to determine close contacts.
The Giants were not in their facility on Monday or Tuesday, and most of the coaching staff worked remotely. The team practised on Wednesday.
In Los Angeles, five backup players missed practice with the Rams on Thursday after a positive COVID-19 test within the organisation.
Linebackers Justin Hollins and Ogbo Okoronkwo, safety Nick Scott and offensive linemen Bobby Evans and Brian Allen weren’t in the workout while the Rams conducted contact tracing, coach Sean McVay said.
The Rams didn’t reveal which player tested positive, but Evans was listed as being absent from practice with an illness, while the other four players had a different designation on the injury report.
