International sports

England v Barbarians called off after players breach Covid rules

England’s match against the Barbarians at Twickenham on Sunday has been called off after 12 Barbarians players were stood down for breaking Covid rules.

The players left their hotel bubble – contrary to team protocols – to have dinner at a London restaurant.

During its investigation, the Rugby Football Union (RFU) said it discovered another breach where players left the hotel without permission.

Former England captain Chris Robshaw is among the players who have apologised.

The RFU said the players’ actions meant the “bubble environment” was compromised.

“We are incredibly disappointed to be calling a halt to this fixture,” said RFU chief executive Bill Sweeney. “We know how much fans were looking forward to seeing the teams play.

“However, our priority is to protect the health and safety of the England squad and the other international teams they will go up against this autumn.”

Robshaw ‘sincerely remorseful’ for breach

Robshaw, Richard Wigglesworth, Sean Maitland and Jackson Wray were among the 12 players stood down from the fixture, along with a number of other Saracens players.

Robshaw, who is set to join San Diego Legion in the US, expressed his “deepest apologies” for “leaving the hotel post-training with some of my team-mates”.

“A huge effort went into conducting this match in a safe fashion and it was irresponsible of me to break the protocols which are put in place to protect players, staff and the public,” he said.

“I understand that my actions have ultimately contributed to the cancellation of Sunday’s match and I am sincerely remorseful for my role in undoing all the amazing work that went into trying to make it happen.

“I promise that I will learn from this mistake and ensure something like this never happens again.”

Former England scrum-half Wigglesworth said: “Embarrassed and beyond gutted to have let (coach) Vern Cotter and everyone at Barbarians FC as well as the RFU.

“Should not have happened and for that I am truly sorry. I’ve let a lot of people down including myself and wish I’d done it differently. Sorry again.”

The Barbarians, who announced their 23-man squad on Wednesday, were given a 15:00 BST deadline on Friday to attempt to recruit a team.

Premiership Rugby officials emailed clubs on Thursday to ask if they would release players to play for the invitational side.

However, it has now been deemed unsafe to fulfil the fixture.

Sweeney said: “There has been a great deal of effort put into Covid codes of conduct and planning for games, including cooperation with Premiership clubs to release additional players to fulfil the fixture safely.

“We are all incredibly frustrated and disappointed that the actions of a number of Barbarians players mean we no longer feel it is safe for the game to go ahead.”

Barbarian FC expressed their “extreme disappointment” in the conduct of the players who breached regulations.

The build-up to Barbarians games is famous for its focus on socialising and the team management installed a team room in their London base to keep the players entertained.

BBC.COM

Ogyem Solomon

Solomon Ogyem – Media Entrepreneur | Journalist | Brand Ambassador Solomon Ogyem is a dynamic Ghanaian journalist and media entrepreneur currently based in South Africa. With a solid foundation in journalism, Solomon is a graduate of the OTEC School of Journalism and Communication Studies in Ghana and Oxbridge Academy in South Africa. He began his career as a reporter at OTEC 102.9 MHz in Kumasi, where he honed his skills in news reporting, community storytelling, and radio broadcasting. His passion for storytelling and dedication to the media industry led him to establish Press MltiMedia Company in South Africa—a growing platform committed to authentic African narratives and multimedia journalism. Solomon is the founder and owner of Thepressradio.com, a news portal focused on delivering credible, timely, and engaging stories across Ghana and Africa. He also owns Press Global Tickets, a service-driven venture in the travel and logistics space, providing reliable ticketing services. In addition to his media ventures, Solomon serves as a Brand Ambassador for Alabuga, a prominent Russian industrial company, representing their interests and expansion across Africa. He previously owned two notable websites—Ghanaweb.mobi and ShowbizAfrica.net—both of which contributed to entertainment and socio-political discussions within Ghana’s digital space. With a diverse background in media, digital journalism, and business, Solomon Ogyem is dedicated to telling impactful African stories, empowering youth through media, and building cross-continental media partnerships.

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