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XV of France: "the investigation" on the origin of the outbreak of Covid-19 is progressing

2021-02-18T00:25:13.599Z


The hypothesis of contamination by players from France 7, called in to reinforce the training of the Blues last Thursday, is growing. Several players of the XV of France would present viral loads which let fear the worst during the next series of tests, Friday.


How does the XV of France, supposed to be under a health cliche, find himself under the threat of large-scale contamination?

Little by little, the clues multiply and the scenario becomes clearer.

Initially, the FFR press release announcing on Wednesday the withdrawal of the French men's team at 7 for the Madrid tournament this weekend.

The reason ?

Several players - at least six according to our information - positive for Covid-19.

However some of these players participated last Thursday, that is to say a week ago, in the high intensity training of the XV of France, Fabien Galthié and his staff not varying on their desire to have 42 players for these sessions in conditions real game play, 15 to 15.

The septists had been tested before this session, all negative.

But the incubation period does not make this precaution infallible.

"Analyzes are underway to establish a possible link between the health situation of the two teams in France", also specifies the press release from the FFR, after the revelation of three cases in the staff of the Blues, Fabien Galthié, William Servat and a third, whose identity has not been disclosed.

"We made the choice not to name this member of the management to protect him and not to expose him publicly", justified the person in charge of the communication of the XV of France.

Respect for medical confidentiality is indeed a right that cannot be discussed.

Fabien Galthié and William Servat are public figures.

In the press release, we made the choice not to name this member of the management to protect him and not to expose him publicly.

- Laurent Latour (@LaurentLatour) February 17, 2021

Three staff members contaminated therefore, without showing any symptoms, however.

And no players?

While they are all negative for the moment, some have worrying viral loads - information from

Midi Olympique

that we are able to confirm.

Not enough to be tested positive on Wednesday, but the next tests, carried out on Friday, could confirm the existence of an outbreak within the XV of France.

Especially since, according to

L'Equipe

, it is the English variant, more contagious, which would have been detected in the players of France 7 ...

The scandal would be resounding if Irish players found themselves contaminated by the Blues 

Two days of anguish to come then.

The incubation period being seven days maximum, if the tests were all negative on Friday, that would mean that the Blues would have passed between the drops.

A real miracle as the interactions were numerous between the Blues and the septists, then the staff and the players.

The videos and photos published by the FFR in recent days indeed show Galthié and Servat hugging players, celebrating victory side by side.

Or the coach in the same room as Antoine Dupont, Monday evening, to give him his Oscar d'or Midi Olympique.

Not to mention the third half on Sunday night in the walls of their Dublin hotel where social distancing should not have been the order of the day ...

"READ ALSO - 

Positive for Covid-19, Galthié is reassuring

What if bad news were to fall on Friday?

The consequences would be terrible.

First in terms of image.

The French government hesitated for a long time before giving the green light to the holding of the Six Nations Tournament.

The promises of strict compliance with the health bubble had finally convinced him.

Mixing with France 7 was certainly not a validated option ... One would have thought, conversely, that the XV of France remains in a health bubble throughout the duration of the competition - two months - like this that the NBA had set up for its finals.

Difficult for players not to see their loved ones for eight weeks?

You have to know what you want ... The scandal would also take on another dimension, crossing borders, if it appeared that Irish players were contaminated by the Blues last Sunday during the meeting between the two nations ...

Call up 31 new players to take on Scotland? 

And, in this now dreaded case, of one or more contaminated players of the XV of France, what would be the next step for the competition?

Unable to align these players on February 28 against Scotland, a health issue, the risks of the consequences of Covid-19 in sports practice having been established.

The only solution is to forget the list of the 31 selected for this match on Wednesday (with the exception of the three newcomers, Damba Bamba, Swann Rebbadj and Jean-Baptiste Gros) to constitute a new one.

In total, to avoid any risk and put an end to this potential cluster?

Or mix between negative players and newcomers?

A real dilemma, which could be resolved by the elementary principle of health precaution.

Read also

  • XV of France: why a cluster is now to be feared

Source: lefigaro

All news articles on 2021-02-18

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