South Africa's second Test against Georgia cancelled due to Covid

The second Test between South Africa and Georgia to be played in Johannesburg on Friday has been called-off due to Covid-19 cases in both the camps.

According to the latest round of testing, 12 members in the South African side and four from Georgia returned positive for coronavirus and are placed under isolation.

The two teams faced each other on 2nd July which was also the Springboks' first game since the 2019 World Cup campaign as they emerged victorious with a 40-9 margin.

Earlier, the British and Irish Lions had reported a positive case and as a result the management member along with four others - two players and two staff members - who were identified close contacts are placed under isolation. A statement from Lions revealed that their tour game against Sharks on Wednesday "will still take place provided the subsequent round of PCR testing returns negative results later this afternoon".

"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," said Jurie Roux, CEO of SA Rugby.

"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."