Silktails struck by COVID before leaving Fiji

Embed from Getty Images

COVID-19's current surge has hit NSWRL Ron Massey Cup club Kaiviti Silktails hard ahead of their planned return to Sydney for the 2022 season.

Fiji's Ministry of Health advised the club that 18 players and three staff had tested positive for the virus, and would be required to self-isolate for a fortnight at the team's Centre of Excellence in Fiji.

As the other three men in the 21 man squad are close contacts, they will all isolate at home.

The positive tests mean the club will need to re-evaluate their travel plans a fortnight from now. Once in Australia their base will be at Mascot - just like in 2021 prior to the competition grinding to a halt.

Silktails' executive director Stephen Driscoll confirmed all players had received two doses of COVID-19 vaccine. The club had been back at pre-season training in November with no cases at the time.

The Ron Massey Cup season is scheduled to kick off on Saturday 19 March.