South Africa to host postponed United Rugby Championship matches in March
A total of eight matches were postponed
©Steve Haag
The United Rugby Championship have announced new dates for the postponed games that were played in South Africa last year.
Cardiff, Munster, Scarlets and Zebre Parma endured a tough outing in South Africa as their games in the country was postponed following the Covid-19 surge due to the Omicron variant.
The four clubs had difficulties in returning back home as few of the squad members tested positive for the virus while UK had placed South Africa in the red travel list.
Nevertheless, the organisers have now decided to play the eight postponed games in South Africa during the final two weekends of Six Nations in March.
"After review of the repatriation process that occurred in December, the URC will ensure that significant on-call measures are in place in the unlikely event of such circumstances occurring again," read a statement from the URC.
"Additionally, the league's direct relationship with the relative government and health departments has also been strengthened."
URC chief executive Martin Anayi said all factors including player welfare were considered before a decision was made.
"Having been on the ground alongside other members of the URC management team in December when these games were postponed, we were fully aware of the circumstances that isolation presented.
"Player welfare remains paramount to rugby's success and after much internal consultation we believe that our clubs and players are confident that contingences now exist that - no matter how unlikely to be needed - can expedite any future process."
