A MEMBER of the Scotland squad is among a number of players involved in the Women’s Six Nations Championship to have tested positive for Covid-19, leading to the cancellation of two of the three fixtures in the tournament planned for Sunday. Scotland’s game against Wales and France’s match with Ireland are the two affected matches, but so far the Italy-England fixture will go ahead as planned.

It is understood that the French camp produced positive tests earlier this week, and that the Ireland squad were informed on Wednesday night that their game would be off as a result. As France played Scotland in Glasgow on Sunday, there were clear health concerns for the Scots squad too, and last night it emerged that, in addition to the single positive test, four members of that squad had been identified as close contacts of the French team and had been withdrawn from the group as a result. Six Nations plans to find new dates for both games.

Last night Scottish Rugby issued a statement saying: “Six Nations has postponed this weekend’s (Sunday 1 November) Wales v Scotland Women’s Six Nations match at Cardiff City Stadium. This decision has been taken as a result of a Scotland player returning a positive test for coronavirus today. The player is asymptomatic and is doing well. No further players or management are required to self-isolate as a result of the positive case.

“Scotland Women can also confirm four players were withdrawn from the squad earlier this week. The group were identified as ‘close contacts’ with members of the France team they played against on Sunday 25 October and who have since tested positive for Covid-19 in France.

The four identified players did not reconvene in camp this week. To respect medical confidentiality Scotland Women will not name the individuals affected.”

Announcing the postponements, Six Nations said it would have been “unviable” for Scotland to field a competitive team against Wales. The match between the two countries was originally due to be played in March, but, in common with the men’s fixture, was postponed as the authorities began to clamp down on large public gatherings just before the UK went into a full lockdown. The match against France which went ahead last weekend had also been due to take place in the spring, but was postponed after one of the Scottish players returned a positive test.

England, who became champions on Sunday as a result of France’s 13-13 draw with Scotland, will complete the Grand Slam should they beat the Italians in Parma’s Stadio Sergio Lanfranchi.