Schoolboys rugby fixtures have been put on hold after the Council of Education Ministers suspended all contact sports in schools with immediate effect.
In a media release issued by the Department of Basic Education, it was confirmed that all contact sports, including rugby, would be suspended in the country.
Non-contact training will continue in schools, though, provided social distancing, hygiene and safety measures are observed and there is no contact between participants in training.
This comes after a rise in Covid-19 outbreaks in Gauteng related to school sports activities, with a number of schools rugby games called off over the past couple of weeks.
According to the release, the Outbreak Response Team determined that the risk of transmission was high when engaged in close contact sports, especially with people who do not live together.
The suspension will be in place until the clusters outbreak is over with no further cases reported, including in preparatory schools.
[MEDIA STATEMENT] Contact sports suspended with immediate effect in school@ElijahMhlanga @ReginahMhaule @HubertMweli pic.twitter.com/zI6jeIIrMY
— Dep. Basic Education (@DBE_SA) May 19, 2021
Picture: Grey College / SA Rugby Magazine