Manumā Samoa stuck in Auckland

By Thomas Airey 30 March 2020, 3:00PM

Invest Samoa Manumā players and management will have been stuck in Auckland for over a month by the time they are able to return home due to COVID-19.

Monday marked the end of their enforced two-week quarantine period having flown into New Zealand from Perth, Australia where they played the South China Tigers on the 14th of March.

However, last Wednesday the New Zealand government introduced further measures to help contain the novel coronavirus, including grounding all international flights out of the country.

The Manumā are also required to stay in their accommodation for the duration of the four-week lockdown period along with everyone else who doesn’t work in an essential service like the media, supermarkets and petrol stations.

The current restrictions are set to expire the 22nd of April, so if they are not extended the team should then be able to board the next available flight to Samoa.

The Samoa Rugby Union said their management and that of Invest Samoa Manumā are working to ensure the team are well looked after, and medically cared for, if needed.

Team Manager, Tuala Pat Leota, is among the group in Auckland, and he said on Sunday evening that the entire team and management were well.

Just one round of Global Rapid Rugby was played before the season was suspended due to the pandemic, with no date yet for when matches can resume.

Tags

Rugby union
Health
By Thomas Airey 30 March 2020, 3:00PM
Samoa Observer

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