naraic wrote: ↑October 19th, 2022, 9:04 pm
Any truth to the Tom Willis rumor or did someone just say wouldn't it be nice if Ulster would sign him.
As far as I know, just chat 2+2=5 etc, unless someone knows different.
Planet Rugby editor said he looed headed for Ulster. Wasn't confirmed just that there was contact etc
Ruddock's tackle stats consistently too low for me to be taken seriously as a Six Nations blindside..... Ruddock's defensive stats don't stack up. - All Blacks Nil, Jan 15th, 2014
England A 8 - 14 Ireland A, 25th Jan 2014 Ruddock(c) 19/2 Tackles
Any news from the Ulster camp about their sickness?
Presumably, no airline is going to want to transport a large group with digestion problems in a 10 hour flight, so transport delay might be a couple of days which could disrupt next fixture.
Will they be able to field a team for next weekend?
Ruddock's tackle stats consistently too low for me to be taken seriously as a Six Nations blindside..... Ruddock's defensive stats don't stack up. - All Blacks Nil, Jan 15th, 2014
England A 8 - 14 Ireland A, 25th Jan 2014 Ruddock(c) 19/2 Tackles
neill_m wrote: ↑October 23rd, 2022, 4:28 pm
Just the 29 players and 13 support staff sick in the Ulster camp.
E.Coli and Norovirus detected.
That sounds appalling.
Between this, Glasgow at the weekend and what happened to the ABs before the world cup final in 1995, teams may want to look into having their own catering corps employed before playing in SA. I think at national level we do, but can't say the same for provincial for these tours
neill_m wrote: ↑October 23rd, 2022, 4:28 pm
Just the 29 players and 13 support staff sick in the Ulster camp.
E.Coli and Norovirus detected.
That sounds appalling.
Medicating 29 players for 4/5 days is certainly not the ideal preparation for elite performance. On the other hand, this is precisely where high quality nutritional advice and medical familiarity with the patients becomes a huge bonus. Experience from the athletics and cycling worlds will be invaluable and such medical problems have been experienced by both at overseas training camps and major championships.
Does anybody have any idea how the Ulster players and Glasgow players picked up these infections and viruses? I've read various reports that the Kwa Zulu Natal waste & water infrastructure was badly damaged by floods and weather events in the first half of the year and that they have had continuous problems since then [including E coli], which has resulted in locals falling ill, as well as various beach closures and tap-water bans in different areas.
Is it possible to pick up E coli from showering in water carrying this bacteria?
If not, I suspect that the squad were provided with drinking water from taps instead of bottled water. I expect that Ulster's medical and backroom staff would have been well-informed of the potential issues with drinking water and would have been very cautious about same. It's difficult to reconcile.
Following the postponement by the URC of Ulster’s Round 6 fixture, after an independent medical assessment, the Ulster Rugby Medical team has issued a squad update.
The Ulster Rugby Medical team has confirmed that 29 players and 13 support staff were unwell whilst in Durban in the lead-up to Saturday’s postponed fixture. Independent medical testing confirmed both E. coli and Norovirus in tested samples.
The club can also confirm that all precautionary medical, nutritional, and Public Health advice was adhered to prior to any member of the travelling group falling ill, and that the on-ground Ulster Rugby Medical team took all actions possible to prevent the spread amongst players and staff during the week.
Ahead of the upcoming Round 7 fixture versus Munster next Saturday, the travelling squad is due back in Belfast on Monday lunchtime and will start preparations later this week, together with the wider playing group, for the upcoming URC game.
Head Coach, Dan McFarland, said:
“We came to Durban with our sights set on doing what, to this point, no other team in the URC has managed to do - the double in South Africa. This was going to be a huge challenge but exactly the type of challenge, as competitors, we look for.
“The win versus the Lions was a big physical challenge, and I was proud of the way the guys fronted. I am also proud of the way both Support Staff and Players have worked throughout these two weeks.
“We are used to travelling to South Africa and what it requires, and this level of sickness was unprecedented. Whilst staying in Durban, 29 players and 13 support staff were hit with BOTH E. coli and Norovirus. It’s disappointing, especially given how unwell our group was, that some chose to question the reasoning for our game to be postponed, as we have invested a lot as a group and an organisation in getting this fixture played.
“With players and staff now recovering, we are focused on getting home to start preparations for our upcoming Interpro fixture at Thomond Park.”
Great work rate from Stewart Moore. Makes a tackle on the far touch line on O’Donoghue and 10 seconds later he’s back on the near touch line to make a try saving tackle on Shane Daly
