Here are the latest rugby headlines on Monday, November 29.
Scarlets arrive in Belfast
The Scarlets are beginning their hotel isolation in a Belfast hotel after arriving from South Africa at 5.30am this morning.
Unlike Cardiff Rugby, the west Wales region were able to leave the Rainbow Nation after returning negative PCR Covid tests.
They had to fly to Dublin and then travel on to Belfast as no quarantine hotel was available in Wales.
South Africa was added to the UK Government's travel red list last week and the Scarlets have since missed the Sunday 4am cut-off point, after which anyone arriving in the UK from South Africa must self-isolate in a hotel for 10 days.
And, according to Scarlets chairman Simon Muderack, the region will begin such protocols in Belfast but suggested it was not set in stone that they would isolate for 10 days.
"We've been working very closely with Cardiff Rugby as well as URC, WRU and Munster and Zebre Rugby over the past couple of days frantically trying to figure out a solution," he told Scrum V on Sunday evening.
"We have recently secured accommodation for the team and the staff in Belfast, so there is an isolation hotel that they're going to be able to spend the evening [Sunday] in and go through the full set of protocols over the coming days."
Asked if players and staff would be isolating for 10 days, he said: "Our plan is to go into the protocols and we will see over the next couple of days how that pans out.
"From a Scarlets perspective, our boys and girls have done two sets of PCR tests over the past 48 hours and both sets of tests have been 100% negative. This group has kept themselves very safe, which we're very happy about, but as of now they're going into a regular isolation hotel and thanks to UK Government as well as the Welsh Government for making that an option for us and helping assist us to get that put in place.
"The system in the UK is under a considerable amount of stress and finding a location where 50 people can be accommodated has not been an easy task. It'll be what it'll be, but the full complement of people coming back from South Africa will go into that environment."
The Scarlets had travelled from Durban to Cape Town on Saturday before flying to Europe on Sunday.
United Rugby Championship had been scheduled to stage its first fixtures on South African soil at the weekend, but all four games were postponed.
Cardiff facing prospect of isolating twice
Cardiff Rugby are stuck in South Africa after two Covid tests returned positive results, including one suspected to be the new Omicron variant.
Turned around at the airport on Sunday as the positive cases became apparent, it is not yet known when and via what route Dai Young's men will return home.
Wales centre Jamie Roberts told Scrum V: "First thing's first, those two positive tests, I hope they're well and good. It's very difficult for those players, turned up to the airport to be turned back and having to isolate in their own rooms now for 10 days.
"Just for the club, it's very difficult. They were meant to be hosting Toulouse, European champions, probably the biggest day Cardiff Rugby have seen in a couple of years. No doubt a sell-out and massive income for the club.
"If you fast forward 10 days from [Monday, November 29], day one of their quarantine, those guys are going to land home at the earliest [the following] Friday [December 10], and they might have to isolate again. It's pretty tough and who knows the ramifications moving forward then into the derby games?"
United Rugby Championship may see games on international weekends after all
As for the ramifications on the competition, James Hook added: "That's potentially three games that could be postponed. The reason why the league was set up was because they didn't want to play club games on international weekends, so this could well be the case as well now."
Munster's plans to return home from South Africa have also been delayed after members of their squad tested positive for coronavirus.
The four round-six fixtures - Scarlets v Sharks, Cardiff v Lions, Munster v Bulls and Stormers v Zebre Parma - were called off after UK officials sounded the alarm over a new variant of the virus in South Africa.
Cardiff are now isolating at their hotel, while a statement said: "The club are also continuing to work with all relevant authorities to secure the travelling party's return to Wales when safe and appropriate."
Round seven fixtures, scheduled to take place in South Africa next weekend, have also been postponed.
Warren Gatland to take charge of first game after Lions tour
Warren Gatland has been appointed head coach of New Zealand Barbarians this weekend in his first game at the helm since the British and Irish Lions' series defeat to South Africa this summer.
The Barbarians, playing their first match in two years, will face the New Zealand Heartland XV at Taupō's Owen Delany Park on Sunday.
Gatland is being assisted by former All Black Jarrad Hoeata and Roger Randle, and has selected Hawke's Bay's Frank Lochore, the grandson of legendary late All Black Sir Brian Lochore, in his squad. Lochore made his provincial debut as a loose forward for the Magpies this season.
Gatland, a proud Barbarian, said: "I’ve been privileged to give opportunities to a number of players in red (with Wales and the British and Irish Lions) and this match will be no different for the up-and-coming stars who will don the Baabaas red jersey.
"Barbarians’ rugby is all about providing opportunities, camaraderie, enjoyment and supporting grassroots rugby, and I’m excited to be a part of the team."
The team assembles on Friday, meaning there will be only one training session before the match.
Gatland coached the Lions in 2017 against a New Zealand Barbarians team made up of provincial players in their tour opener, winning 13-7 in Whangarei.
He has returned to Super Rugby side the Chiefs but as director of rugby after his sabbatical replacement Clayton McMillan kept hold of the head coach role.
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