SA Rugby has confirmed that the Super Rugby Unlocked match between the Sharks and Stormers has been cancelled due to Covid-19 protocols.

The Stormers and Sharks were both tied on 17 points on the Super Rugby Unlocked log, with the Stormers sitting in second place due to a superior points differential. The two teams were set to battle it out in the final round of the competition to see if they could climb above the Vodacom Bulls, who sit on top of the table on 19 points.

However, their match, which was scheduled to kick off at Kings Park at 7pm on Saturday, has been cancelled following positive tests among the Sharks’ tighthead props.

It follows the cancellation of the Lions’ matches against the Cheetahs and Pumas. Earlier in the Super Rugby Unlocked competition, the Lions had to accept two log points after a match against the Cheetahs was unable to be rescheduled after a Covid-19 scare.

Meanwhile, the Pumas’ match against the Bulls – originally scheduled for Friday evening in Pretoria – has been pushed back until Saturday, 21 November for player-welfare reasons (kick-off time to be confirmed).

 The Pumas squad – which returned several positive tests last week – will be retested on Thursday. The results will be known on Friday, allowing time for a training session after 10 days in isolation before meeting the Bulls on Saturday.

No decision has been made about the points allocation from the Sharks vs Stormers match, but if they are awarded two log points each, the Bulls will be crowned as Super Rugby Unlocked champions. If this is the case, the Bulls can afford to lose Saturday’s match against the Pumas by 52 points and still be crowned champions.

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