Spare a thought for the Bulls eating Christmas lunch in isolation

Bulls players and their management team will be spending Christmas in Covid-19 isolation.

READ | JACO PEYPER HANDED HUGE ENGLAND V FRANCE SIX NATIONS CLASH

However, they will be able to spend the Christmas long weekend with their families.

BULLS’ NEXT 2 MATCHES HAVE BEEN POSTPONED

Earlier in the week SA Rugby announced that the Bulls’ Currie Cup match against the Lions at Loftus Versfeld – which was scheduled for Boxing Day, Saturday, December 26 – had been postponed to Wednesday, January 6 (19:00), due to Covid-19 infections in the Pretoria franchise’s squad.

Following that match, the Bulls will take on the Pumas at the Mbombela Stadium Nelspruit on Sunday, January 10 after that match as pushed back from its original date of Friday, January 8.

ALSO READ | MONTPELLIER MOVE QUICKLY TO FILL BISMARCK DU PLESSIS VOID

‘We have postponed the testing we were meant to have on Monday until Sunday, December 27, because it is still less than 10 days since the first positive tests and testing now would not give conclusive results, so we can get a more realistic picture next weekend,’ said Bulls CEO Edgar Rathbone.

‘In the meantime, the whole team is in isolation at home, which makes it easier to control the infection.

‘They will have no contact with other people outside of their families and we hope getting to spend Christmas with their families means they can come back recharged and refreshed.

‘Obviously, it is not ideal, but it has given the bodies some time to recover. If the players are clear on the 27th, then we will start training on the 28th and that gives us a week and a bit to prepare for the Lions game.’

Jake White’s Bulls side currently lead the Currie Cup log by six points from the Lions.

However those two sides have played one more match than the three sides – Sharks, WP and Cheetahs – that follow.

IN CLOSING | SA’S SUPER RUGBY SIDES TO COMPETE IN NEW ‘RAINBOW CUP’