South Africa's second Test match against Georgia has been cancelled due to Covid infections in both camps, it has been announced.
The Springboks' match was scheduled for Friday night (July 9), but following a review by the Medical Advisory Group on Wednesday morning, it was confirmed that the risk of further infection made it impossible to continue with the match.
It comes after the Springbok playing and management group returned 12 positive Covid tests this week, while Georgia had returned four.
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Jurie Roux, CEO of SA Rugby, said: "In the context of the loss of life and economic damage that Covid and this third wave are wreaking, the cancellation of a rugby match is pretty trivial.
"But it is still a major disappointment for the many stakeholders who have invested so much time, energy and resources into making these matches happen.
"I especially feel for the fans and players, and for our visitors from Georgia who travelled here at relatively short notice to take on the series, which has now been cut short. We’ve not been able to interact with them because of the bio-secure environments, but I’d like to thank them publicly for their support.
"We continue to plan for the Springboks’ re-emergence from isolation and the completion of the Test series but in the short-term we wish a speedy recovery for those who have been infected."
According to a statement from the South Africa Rugby Union, the Springbok squad’s travel plans are now being reviewed to comply with Covid protocols.
The cancellation of South Africa v Georgia is the latest of tour issues being caused by the coronavirus pandemic, with the Lions' match against the Bulls on Saturday already called off and Wednesday''s clash with Cell C Sharks in doubt.
A South Africa ‘A’ team is scheduled to play the British and Irish Lions at Cape Town Stadium on Wednesday, July 14.
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