Rob Baxter calls for an end to Premiership Rugby’s coronavirus testing system to save money

[ASFN Admin]

Exeter Chiefs director of rugby Rob Baxter has called for an end to Premiership Rugby’s coronavirus testing system even as he warned his players to be “hyper vigilant” with infections on the rise. At a time when clubs are battling for survival in the absence of any live crowds, the scrapping of the testing regime would be an instant money saver. At present, each round testing costs an estimated £100,000 or around £8,000 per club per week. Yet Baxter also argues that the testing is fast becoming “unnecessary” in light of the tiny number of positive cases. Last week, only five positive tests were returned from 1,056 players and staff or an infection rate of 0.47 per cent. Not since the first two weeks of testing have more than five players tested positive for Covid-19. “Hopefully maybe it will be a matter of weeks where testing is deemed unnecessary,” Baxter said. “I think most clubs would be in agreement that what is being picked up and the actual transfer rates even around players who are testing positive are so so small that I think the argument for continued testing will die away pretty quickly.”

Continue reading...