The Covid-19 blocks the preparation of the Stade Français. Returned from his internship in Nice (Alpes-Maritimes) with several positive cases in its workforce, the Top 14 club decided to place all of its players and staff in isolation on Monday, August 17. The Parisian general manager, Thomas Lombard, takes stock of the health situation of his group and the resumption of the championship in less than one month.
The figure of 25 positive cases at Stade Français was released by the daily L'Equipe. Do you confirm or deny this information?
THOMAS LOMBARD. These data are subject to medical confidentiality, I do not have to communicate about it. This is in no way verified and unsettling information for the club, especially for our subscription campaign. We were ahead of our sales compared to similar dates and this information on our various cases of Covid-19 slowed them down. People are worried about the recovery when it is not happening.
How do you explain this multiplication of cases in your workforce?
A player or a member of the staff probably contracted the virus a few hours or a few days after our departure for Nice on Tuesday (Editor's note: July 28) . We had tested them the day before, they were all negative. But the problem is that there is a period of time between contamination and detection of Covid-19. We tested them again in Nice and, at the end of the internship, we had doubts about a player who was then put in isolation. His test was positive, and we had other positive cases in the aftermath. We then decided to bring the team back independently and confined to Paris on Wednesday (August 5). Then, we put the group to rest until Monday morning when new tests showed that there were other cases. With the health authorities, we then decided that it was wiser to stop everything and place everyone in isolation until August 17. We never lost control. Now there is no such thing as zero risk and we cannot be perfect.
Thanks for the messages of support. Big blow in our preparation, but the most important is that everyone regains health. I hope to see you soon
- Gonzalo Quesada (@GonzaloQuesada) August 11, 2020How are infected people doing?
We only have asymptomatic cases among the players and the staff. So the priority here is to protect those who are negative from contamination. We will redo tests Thursday or Friday in order to be able to get the players out of isolation on Monday, where we will do more tests for a possible recovery. I know it's not pleasant, when it's 38 degrees in Paris, to ask the players to stay locked up and not see anyone, but it's the only solution to stop dragging it.
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Did your players respect the barrier gestures during the course?
We did as much as possible within the framework of an internship where people live in communities and train to play rugby. We had an evening at the restaurant, but it was just us, we didn't bump into anyone else. And I insist: the tests were negative at that time. We did what we could, but I repeat, zero risk does not exist. We meet people, we go shopping, we live with our families ... We are in Paris, an area where there are greater risks of contracting Covid-19 according to the health authorities. But we are not the only ones concerned in rugby: Lyon has had positive cases, Agen has had one and Pro D2 clubs have also been affected. I do not wish it, but other clubs in the Top 14 will be in the same situation.
You must face Bordeaux-Bègles for the resumption of the Top 14 on September 4. Will you be ready or do you plan to request a postponement of the match?
We will play this game. The players have been training since June, a significant amount of physical work has been done, they can observe a week without training. So far, only our friendly match against Brive, on August 14, has been canceled. We plan to play the one against Toulon on the 27th.
For the season to unfold normally, should we put the rugby players in a bubble?
No, it's unthinkable. One, because players need a family unit behind them to be successful. Two, because it would be too costly financially. And, then, if we take the logic to the end, that would mean that we should isolate the staff with us or ask the group to live in complete autonomy. I don't see myself going to tell them that they're going to live like this for three months or more.
You explain that you had negative feedback about your season ticket campaign. What are you going to do to welcome the public?
We were in the process of equipping the stadium to be able to accommodate the public within the limit of 5,000 spectators which is currently required. We will ask people to come with masks, but we will also be able to provide them. Obviously, there will be no contact with the players who will not pass in the meeting spaces in the boxes after the matches. I want to reassure everyone, we will be ready for the recovery.