Northampton rugby stars have been warned they face the axe if they threaten rugby’s restart by breaching Covid protocols.
Saints today resume their Premiership campaign against Wasps with their town recording the highest rate of new coronavirus case infections in England this week.
In the same period the failure of Aberdeen and Celtic footballers to stick to guidelines led to three Scottish Premiership matches being postponed.
Saints boss Chris Boyd said his players are constantly reminded that keeping Covid out of the rugby club is a 24/7 responsibility and that “100 per cent” anyone stepping out of line will be excluded.
“This is a serious issue and we can’t afford to be sloppy and lazy in any way,” he said. “So from us it’s a constant drip-feed message of what’s appropriate.
“The boys are told when they have to shower, they have to change their kit between sessions, they have to sanitise relentlessly in sessions.
“It’s become the norm because we know socially distancing is, for human beings, inherently a very difficult thing to do. It certainly doesn’t work with alcohol and it certainly doesn’t work with young kids.”
Saints captain Teimana Harrison insists the players are already self-policing, reminding each other to be “sensible” and make decisions that are going to “benefit the team and not just yourself”.
