NEWS EXTRA
Tynedale match off due to MRSA outbreak
TYNEDALE have suspended all senior rugby activity until further notice after a first-team player recently contracted MRSA.
The decision was taken on the advice of the National Clubs Association (NCA) and the RFU, who have been in consultation with Public Health England, and led to the postponement of yesterday's National Two North fixture at Chester.
In a statement released on Thursday evening, Tynedale confirmed they had taken the action as a precaution against the spread of the bacteria.
“This type of infection can be serious in a hospital setting but is readily treatable in normal healthy adults. However it is contagious and may be spread via close physical contact.
Tynedale RFC is therefore taking all precautions to avoid further contagion, including postponement of all Senior rugby fixtures this coming weekend.”
The affected player and a handful of team-mates needed hospital treatment for leg wounds, which later became infected, after playing on Stourbridge's Artificial Grass Pitch (AGP) on September 15.
The north east club emailed their concerns to Stourbridge on Tuesday this week and, 48 hours later, an RFU official visited Stourton Park, at the Midland's club's request, to check on the surface.
The findings from Thursday's inspection have yet to be made available to The Rugby Paper but, speaking beforehand, Stourbridge's long-serving DoR Neil Mitchell insisted their AGP had been maintained as per RFU guidelines and that no other issues had been reported.
“We've had the pitch since November last year and have no concerns about it until someone tells us otherwise,” Mitchell said.
“Once Tynedale reported the case of MRSA to us and intimated that the pitch may be the causation, we undertook due diligence and invited the RFU to come and take a look at it.
“The pitch is on a 30-year lease (from the RFU) so if anyone brings anything like this to our attention, then we have got to act.”
