Rugby authorities urge Premiership players to get Covid-19 vaccination

[Puja]

https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2021/ ... inst-covid

Apparently they'll be allowed to relax COVID precautions like mask wearing and social distancing if they reach 85% vaccination of the players and staff. Be interesting to see which clubs have masked benches next season.

I'm astounded that any (non-Exeter) rugby player wouldn't be vaccinated though. They're surrounded by medical personnel, their bosses presumably are in favour because they want to keep their squad fit, and long COVID could end their career. I can see the logic in not wanting side-effects mid-season, but they've all had 5 weeks off in a space where the vaccines are plentiful and readily available. Apart from being dedicated to being a complete and total fuck-nugget, I don't understand why any of them wouldn't be double-jabbed.

Puja

[Digby]

Still waiting on someone, England would be nice, to say it's mandatory if you want to be in camp/play

[fivepointer]

I would have thought the clubs would have required the players and staff to get vaccinated.

England could certainly take a lead here and insist upon it and how about Prem Rugby making a commitment to get everyone vaccinated.

[Doorzetbornandbred]

Easy way to get compliance, Clubs not at 85%+ are not allowed fans into the grounds.

[jimKRFC]

It does seem odd that not all clubs are at 85% at least! I wonder who isn't??
PL has said Bristol are, I suspect it must be just one or two clubs...

[Which Tyler]

I can't read the full article, but this talks about it: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/rugby-union ... ks-85-per/

Alex Sanderson warns Sale players against risk of not getting vaccinated, saying jobs may be on the line

Alex Sanderson, the Sale Sharks director of rugby, has warned his players that their selection and even “future employment” could be compromised if they refuse to vaccinate themselves fully against Covid-19....

[jimKRFC]

From that article it seems that Sale, Gloucester, Leicester and Bath all close to 85%, L.I no comment on rates.

[Which Tyler]

I can't read the full article, but this talks about it: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/rugby-union ... ks-85-per/

Alex Sanderson warns Sale players against risk of not getting vaccinated, saying jobs may be on the line

Alex Sanderson, the Sale Sharks director of rugby, has warned his players that their selection and even “future employment” could be compromised if they refuse to vaccinate themselves fully against Covid-19....

Someone with access has pulled these quotes for me
Sanderson:

Sanderson said Sale, who host Bath on Saturday, are close to the 85 per cent marker and “all we’ve got to do is follow up with a number of people for their second jab”.

“To start with, we’ve tried to educate them as best we can,” he said. “Our doctor has sent numerous emails regarding rumours surrounding negative effects and the positives of having the vaccine. These are doctors. They are ethically-bound to give the correct information.

“Still, it is a choice. But the consequences of them not having it are not being able to travel, not being able to play in every arena if vaccine passports come in. Even though they’ve got rid of that [idea], it might come back in. You never know.

“The knock-on effect of that is that it could be detrimental to selection and therefore future employment. That’s the reality. We haven’t sugar-coated it. We’ve been brutally honest."

Skivington:

“Every single staff member and player has had their first vaccination at least,” he said. “We’ll be 85 per cent next week, and then 100 per cent within a couple of weeks. The boys, to be fair to them, it’s all their decision. They have all bought into it and as a group decided they want to be as safe as possible.”

Borthwick:

Leicester Tigers head coach Steve Borthwick said his squad’s vaccination rate is “very high”

Hooper:

While Bath director of rugby Stuart Hooper said his club are “striving to get there”.

“We’re close to [85 per cent],” he added. “Obviously there are a number of factors which affect how quickly you can get there, one being the age of the squad – the younger the squad are, the later they could get their first vaccinations. And obviously Covid infections is another thing, because if you’ve been infected you can’t get another vaccination for 28 days.”

[Puja]

I can't read the full article, but this talks about it: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/rugby-union ... ks-85-per/

Alex Sanderson warns Sale players against risk of not getting vaccinated, saying jobs may be on the line

Alex Sanderson, the Sale Sharks director of rugby, has warned his players that their selection and even “future employment” could be compromised if they refuse to vaccinate themselves fully against Covid-19....

Sale have spent an awfully long time over the last several years making themselves thoroughly dislikable and I'm not sure how I feel when ASanderson keeps coming in and puncturing that.

Puja

[Puja]

Saracens confirmed as above 85% threshold, and a "majority" of Prem clubs are either there or close to there: https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/sara ... -gnmw2jmbm

Puja

[Which Tyler]

Just been on the news that football is around 50%

[Oakboy]

I'd have a simple rule: Playing in front of a paying audience requires full vaccination. Take it or leave it.

[Which Tyler]

I'd have a simple rule: Playing in front of a paying audience requires full vaccination. Take it or leave it.

Personally, I'd say 90-95% to allow for the odd genuine medical exemption, but yes - but yes, fail to reach that, and no crowds for you (or maximum 1/3 capacity, or whatever the previous requirement was)

[Puja]

The Irish putting us to shame with a >99% vaccination rate: https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/rugby-union/58816891

Puja

[FKAS]

I'd have a simple rule: Playing in front of a paying audience requires full vaccination. Take it or leave it.

Personally, I'd say 90-95% to allow for the odd genuine medical exemption, but yes - but yes, fail to reach that, and no crowds for you (or maximum 1/3 capacity, or whatever the previous requirement was)

I think the fan numbers are reduced if the squad is not up to a certain %age level of vaccination. Unfortunately this applies even if it's the away team which is why I believe Tigers only had 18k in for the first game of the season Vs Chiefs. Now if you forced an away team to compensate the home team for lost revenue caused by insufficient vaccination rates...

[morepork]

Tax the medical insurance of players who refuse the vaccine for no legitimate medical reason to compensate for the risk conferred to others. And tattoo a spunking cock on their foreheads so vaccinated people in the immediate vicinity know to be wary.

[Which Tyler]

Tax the medical insurance of players who refuse the vaccine for no legitimate medical reason to compensate for the risk conferred to others. And tattoo a spunking cock on their foreheads so vaccinated people in the immediate vicinity know to be wary.

This is the UK you'll have to explain this "Medical Insurance" thing - sounds like a scam to me

[morepork]

Tax the medical insurance of players who refuse the vaccine for no legitimate medical reason to compensate for the risk conferred to others. And tattoo a spunking cock on their foreheads so vaccinated people in the immediate vicinity know to be wary.

This is the UK you'll have to explain this "Medical Insurance" thing - sounds like a scam to me

Yeah. I can see it now. Elite athletes sitting in A&E waiting patiently for an MRI in a room full of kids with sauce pans stuck on their heads and stab victims.

[FKAS]

Tax the medical insurance of players who refuse the vaccine for no legitimate medical reason to compensate for the risk conferred to others. And tattoo a spunking cock on their foreheads so vaccinated people in the immediate vicinity know to be wary.

This is the UK you'll have to explain this "Medical Insurance" thing - sounds like a scam to me

Yeah. I can see it now. Elite athletes sitting in A&E waiting patiently for an MRI in a room full of kids with sauce pans stuck on their heads and stab victims.

It'll be a club policy rather than an individual one I'd have thought. That way the club's medical staff aren't going to be disagreeing with the player's medics provided by their policy which would cause potential issues.