None of the Cardiff players in Covid quarantine will be considered for next weekend’s second Champions Cup tie away to Harlequins.
And the ravaged region’s predicament has now been compounded as they could potentially be without three more players following their 39-7 defeat to Toulouse at the Arms Park
Out of the original 42-strong group which made the troubled trip to South Africa, 35 of them will come out of hotel quarantine in Crawley and head back to Wales on Tuesday, December 14.
But it has been decided it would be unfair to ask them to line up against the English champions at The Stoop next Saturday after so long with no physical preparation.
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Acting coach Gruff Rees said: “The mandate when we spoke was to go with the same group for these two weeks.
“That’s to look after guys who have had a really horrendous experience in terms of what they have had to go through.
“It is important they get back to their families and refresh themselves, let alone the physical shortcomings that might be there going up against the English champions, which would be a big ask in itself.”
Giving his thoughts on the subject, try-scoring Wales star Josh Adams said: "With the lads coming out of quarantine, it's probably unrealistic they will be involved against Harlequins.
"It would be such a short turnaround for them. These boys need time at home with their families. They have been away for a long while."
With 42 players out through quarantine, injury or suspension, Cardiff had to call on Academy youngsters and semi-pros to fulfil their fixture against Toulouse.
Now, with none of the quarantine group becoming available, they are going to be even more stretched for the trip to ‘Quins after suffering further losses in personnel.
Hooker Iestyn Harris suffered shoulder damage versus the French giants, while fly-half Jason Tovey took a bang to the head and young full-back Jacob Beetham could be suspended following his late red card for a shoulder-to-head tackle.
On Harris, Gruff Rees said: “I don’t know the severity. It probably popped out and back in. He’s obviously someone we are mindful of with his injury history. We will have to look and see how that goes in the next 24 hours.
“With Jason, it was a HIA. They came down his channel and he couldn’t get back on the field, so we go through the process with him.
“It does challenge us. It’s starting to get a little bit thin. I was thinking of registering [coaches] TR Thomas and Richie Rees at some point!
“But we are as we are. You look at the registered list and we will be from that group.”
Cardiff RFC hooker Alun Rees is now likely to come into the mix against Harlequins, joining his club colleague Evan Yardley in covering that position.
Reflecting on the spirited display his cobbled-together team put in against Toulouse, Gruff Rees said: “The boys had barely trained, let alone played together, so it was a great effort all round.
“There have been so many individual stories behind players on that pitch.
“It’s been a remarkable effort and I’m chuffed we put some good rugby on show against a team that we did fluster a little bit and made it scary for them.
“That’s something we can be proud of.
“The packed Arms Park was a sight to behold.
“There will be some fantastic memories.
“Rowan Jenkins coming off the field to a standing ovation, Jacob Beetham coming off the field to a standing ovation after a red card is a bit surreal really.
“Then there were the 'Feed the Fish' chants when Dan Fish was going back on. There were so many moments to embrace about the day.
“We are involved in high performance rugby, but there’s also a bit of a Corinthian spirit about what we have done.”
Giving his thoughts, captain Ellis Jenkins said: “I can’t thank the boys enough for stepping in this week.
“Monday morning, they didn’t know the calls, they didn’t know anything about it.
“So I can’t speak highly enough of them.
“Some boys were training in the morning and then going off back to work. Some of them are in school, teaching.
“So there was huge spirit from the boys and the crowd were amazing.”
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