The Highlanders will play in an empty stadium in Buenos Aires this weekend after the Jaguares announced their Super Rugby clash will be held behind closed doors.
The growing coronavirus crisis has forced the Jaguares into making the decision just hours after Highlanders coach Aaron Mauger revealed the side was having daily temperature checks to monitor for signs of the deadly virus.
A Sanzaar spokesman told Stuff that it will issue a statement on the global pandemic and what it means for Super Rugby on Friday morning.
Stuff also understands that the Crusaders are still awaiting word on whether their game against the Sunwolves in Brisbane on Saturday will go ahead.
About 90 minutes before the Jaguares announced the decision to hold the fixture at Estadio Jose Amalfitani behind closed doors, Mauger said the team was trying to prepare as normal, but said they had put extra steps in place to look after the players.
“We’re just taking the advice of officials further up the chain but our medical staff have a pretty good handle on it,” Mauger said from Buenos AIres.
“How to keep our boys safe, how to keep the team safe.
“It’s just a bit of general common sense really and we’ll be guided by those above.
“We like to think our boys wash their hands anyway but we’ve got sanitisers out on the field and they’ve all got their own drinks bottles so the medical staff have gone to extra lengths to make sure we’re not spreading any unnecessary germs
“We’re also taking their temperatures every morning.”
The Highlanders played in South Africa last weekend and then travelled for 19 hours to prepare for their fixture against the Jaguares.
The players had a day off on Thursday and at this stage will have their captain’s run on Saturday before the game on Sunday.
As with most major cities around the world, there have been confirmed cases of coronavirus in Buenos Aires, and the city is popular a destination with visitors from Italy, where confirmed cases of coronavirus are skyrocketing.
Sporting competitions all around the globe have been hammered by the coronavirus pandemic.
The NBA suspended its season on Thursday and it appears that the Black Caps’ ODI against Australia in Sydney on Friday may also be played behind closed doors.
The Highlanders’ game is scheduled to kick off at 12pm on Sunday (NZ Time), but if it is cancelled it’s likely that both teams will get two competition points.
