The USAP started badly the week before its capital match in Biarritz. The Catalan club were to train this Monday evening but had to wait before the results of the tests. The training was eventually canceled because three new players on the squad tested positive. General Manager Bruno Rolland announced it on France Bleu Roussillon:
“These players will be isolated and training will resume this Tuesday before the non-positives. These are three players who will surely not be able to play in Biarritz on Saturday. There is talk of the protocol moving and that the isolation period be reduced to five days for asymptomatic patients. Things are changing day by day, we are adapting but these three players will probably be forfeited.“
The USAP, as it has done since the start of the crisis, does not want to reveal the identity of the players concerned: “There is no interest in communicating the names of the players in relation to medical confidentiality, they are three important players in the squad“, was satisfied to answer Bruno Rolland.
Last week, at least seven Catalan squad players tested positive and missed the game at Stade Français. All these players will be able to resume training from Thursday.
For the trip to the Basque country, USAP will again be able to count on the many players absent last week (sick, spared or slightly injured): Jeronimo De La Fuente, Melvyn Jaminet, Bautista Delguy, Tom Ecochard, Xavier Chiocci, Piula Faasalele , Siua Halanukonuka, among others.
As for the treizist rookie of the USAP, Brayden Williame, he could make his debut on January 15 in the Challenge cup against Lyon.