The outlook for top level team sports returning is pretty grim

Inside Track with John McIntyre

THE surge in optimism about some team sport resuming later in the Summer, after the Government revealed its roadmap for the relaxation of restrictions introduced to tackle the Covid-19 pandemic in the country, appears to be gradually dissipating.

Taking the phased re-opening of Ireland at face value and solely in a sporting context, May 18 would see golf courses and tennis courts facilitating their membership again – provided you live within a 5k radius – while team training sessions were signalled to go ahead from June 8, with soccer and GAA games set to get the green light from July 20 onwards.

Rugby and boxing, the heavy contact sports, are the last to be re-introduced in the final phase of lifting the restrictions on August 10. In all cases, however, social distancing guidelines are still to be observed. A scenario which automatically begs the question: how can team sports take place given the physical contact involved?

This conundrum was re-emphasised in a compelling Irish Times interview on Monday with Dr Cillian De Gascun, a central member of the National Public Health Emergency Team and Director of the National Virus Laboratory. He didn’t pull any punches.

On the question of team sports, Dr Gascun said: “It may not be prohibited or banned, but I don’t think it could be recommended on public health grounds. I think team sports are going to be in a very difficult position. Until we have a decent anti-viral or vaccine, physical distancing remains a huge part of this.”

He was even more pessimistic about international rugby resuming in Ireland at all in 2020. “I would like to think the Six Nations can happen, but I don’t see how at this point. Even simple things like flying again,” added Dr Gascun, who played with Terenure during his younger days.

The fact that he understands sport and is a former player himself gives his assessment more credence. He is not an alarmist and unsympathetic to how Covid-19 had thrown all sports into chaos. He says contact sports will be the last to come on stream and, most probably, behind closed doors

For more, read this week’s Connacht Tribune.

Get the Connacht Tribune Live app

The Connacht Tribune Live app is the home of everything that is happening in Galway City and county. It’s completely FREE and features all the latest news, sport and information on what’s on in your area. Click HERE to download it for iPhone and iPad from Apple’s App Store, or HERE to get the Android Version from Google Play.