Stranded Stormers star Jamie Roberts reveals 'the biggest worry' amid coronavirus outbreak in South Africa
Former Wales and British and Irish Lions midfielder Jamie Roberts has revealed his biggest concern while stuck in South Africa amid the ongoing coronavirus pandemic.
The 33-year-old joined the Stormers from English Premiership club Bath shortly before the 2020 Super Rugby campaign kicked off in January, and has made a steady start to life with his new side in Cape Town.
However, the evolving outbreak of COVID-19 has seen circumstances change drastically throughout the Southern Hemisphere.
Super Rugby is now on hold indefinitely as New Zealand, Australia, South Africa, Argentina and Japan have all placed restrictions of some kind for international travellers to try combat the virus.
Such restrictions have left the competition in limbo for the foreseeable future, with the Stormers stuck in seventh place after seven rounds of play.
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For Roberts, South Africa's closure of its borders with 60 known cases of coronavirus in the country means he can't return to his homeland for the time being - not that that is his primary concern.
"The main worry in South Africa is the quality of the healthcare system and people's access to it," the 97-cap international, who is a Cardiff University medical graduate, told The Daily Mail.
"I've only been here a few months. You just hope something as fast spreading as coronavirus doesn't get into the townships. That's the biggest worry here.
"There was a big announcement by the president on Sunday that they are closing the borders to people from high-risk countries. I was thinking of nipping back to Wales in April, but I can't do that now because I wouldn't be allowed back into South Africa.
"There are still huge question marks over whether Super Rugby will get finished. I think it's unrealistic to envisage us playing for another three or four weeks and by that time you are into mid-April. The tournament was meant to finish in the middle weekend of June.
"I can't see them fulfilling all their fixtures."
"The Stormers play the British & Irish Lions in the opening game of the 2021 tour and being a rugby romantic and having been on that tour in 2009, it would be pretty cool to get the chance to play against the Lions in South Africa," he said.
"We are having conversations about maybe doing that. The opportunity to keep on the adventure and maybe experience America or Japan would also be awesome."
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Not a fan of Penney to be fair as I don’t see him able to perform at SR level. However he has stepped into a bit of a mess with so many long service players leaving. No matter how good a coach us he can’t wave a magic wind and turn young pups into Crusaders in 5 mins. Wheaven to accept this is a complete rebuild of players and culture. Have some patience just as the other teams have had in years gone by
Go to commentsWhat is Ben’s point exactly? Cause if it’s that the ABs should’ve won that game, then yes I think every AB fan would agree with that. But the DIDN'T. You need luck to go your way and it went the Springboks way, just as it went the ABs way in 2011. Given that this article is written 6 months after the final shows that Ben is still incredibly butthurt. Time to move on Mr Smith. Maybe join something that suits your bias… i’m thinking the Australian commentary panel?
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