Ten Gallagher Premiership players and staff members test positive for Covid-19 in first round of testing

Premiership Rugby has revealed that there have been 10 positive cases of coronavirus, including six players and four staff members, in its first round of testing.

While Premiership Rugby’s infection rate of 1.2 per cent is higher than any of the 13 rounds of testing undertaken in the Premier League, insiders regard the process as a success and falling within the expected range of results. Barring a sudden surge, they believe they are on track to recommence the league matches on August 14.

A total of 805 tests were carried out on Monday morning while clubs were still in stage one of the return-to-play programme. The positive individuals, who have not been identified, will now be required to isolate for a fortnight along with those who have been in close contact with them. As those players and staff were still practising social distancing, the 12 clubs were on Wednesday allowed to commence contact training.

The testing regime, which was seen as the biggest barrier to the Premiership’s return to play, is being administered by Randox Health at an estimated cost of £100,000 a week. Saracens, Harlequins, Worcester and Northampton have all confirmed that their clubs had returned positive cases.

Leicester and England scrum-half Ben Youngs said that he was unaware of any positive cases at the Tigers. “I would be naive to think that out of 800 players being tested that you are not going to get a few,” Youngs said. “If you think about it, 10 out of 800 isn't too many, in my opinion, not that I am an expert. The protocols that happen next are important, because you do not want that 10 to become 30 next week and then 80, and then we are in a spot of bother. The most important thing is rugby needs to get back up and running. The clubs need it, everyone needs it.”

Premiership Rugby’s greatest challenge will be what happens once a positive test is returned from a forward involved in close-range mauling or scrummaging practice. A high level track-and-trace operation, which will involve close analysis of GPS and training videos, has been set up to ensure affected individuals are identified as quickly as possible.