Cardiff Blues player self-isolating after positive Covid-19 test
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Cardiff Blues head coach John Mulvihill has confirmed James Botham and Josh Adams will miss the Newcastle Falcons tie
Cardiff Blues will face Newcastle Falcons in the European Challenge Cup on Friday despite a squad member testing positive for Covid-19 last week.
The player is experiencing very mild symptoms and is self-isolating.
Blues say another individual was identified as a close contact and is self-isolating but is asymptomatic.
All remaining Blues players and rugby staff have been tested and returned negative results.
In a statement, Blues said the positive test was a result of a "household transmission".
"We have had Covid measures in all the way through," said Blues head coach John Mulvihill.
"Luckily we have had 13 decent weeks. We are pretty confident all our processes have been followed and it was an isolated event outside of our mini-bubble."
After what they say was a "scheduled de-load week", Blues resumed training on Tuesday ahead of their opening European Challenge Cup game.
Blues say opponents Newcastle, European Professional Club Rugby and the Welsh Rugby Union have all been informed and the region continue to follow all necessary protocols and procedures.
Blues have welcomed back their Wales players ahead of the Newcastle trip, although Mulvihill says Josh Adams and James Botham will miss the game due to minor injuries.
Josh Navidi remains on the sidelines.
"He's back running round with us now, training," Mulvihill said.
"It's not me tapping him on the shoulder. He will be tapping me on the shoulder when he's right to go.
"He had a few disappointments where he targeted different returns and he was disappointed. I just told him when he is right to let me know."
Mulvihill hopes Blues will be back playing at the Arms Park by the time they host Newcastle in the return Challenge Cup fixture on 23 January.
They have been playing home games at Newport's Rodney Parade because their ground became part of the Principality Stadium field hospital complex.e