Leinster Rugby have lodged plans with the Government to hold a 'proof of concept' event which could see up to 2,000 supporters attend a match at the RDS.
The plan would 'assess the use of rapid antigen testing as a solution for the safe return of spectators to matches at the RDS Arena' and Leinster Rugby have stated that 'with matches in the Guinness PRO14 Rainbow Cup scheduled for the coming weeks, a trial match could take place as early as next month, May 2021.'
In a statement issued this morning, the province outlined the following steps that would that would need to be carried out for the plan to go ahead:
- Leinster Rugby would host a match where a pilot scheme for rapid antigen testing to detect Covid-19 would be trialled with a limited number of 2m socially distant spectators
- Pre-match antigen testing would take place by appointment and would be on site at the RDS
- The chosen rapid antigen testing system is EU approved and can successfully detect Covid-19 and all variants of concern
- The antigen tests would complement existing Covid-19 guidelines already in place at the RDS Arena for staff and teams
- Capacity for this proof of concept match at the RDS Arena will be capped at 2,000 spectators, just 11% of normal match-day capacity
Speaking about the plan, Leinster Rugby CEO Mick Dawson said: “This is an expertly researched project, which has been subject to robust scrutiny at every level, and we see it as a key contribution to the Government’s efforts to return our country to some form of normality. This initiative has the potential to be used as a blueprint by all sporting, cultural and community organisations for the safe return of limited crowds to their events."
You can read Leinster Rugby's statement in full via
this link.
(header pic: Shutterstock)
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