United Rugby Championship: Ulster reveal 29 players and 13 support staff were struck down with illness

Ulster have revealed the extent of the illness throughout the camp which forced the postponement of their United Rugby Championship game with the Sharks in South Africa.

In a statement, the Ulster Rugby Medical team said no fewer than 29 players and 13 support staff were unwell in Durban in the lead-up to Saturday’s postponed fixture.

It revealed that Independent medical testing confirmed both E. coli and Norovirus in tested samples.

"The club can also confirm that all precautionary medical, nutritional, and Public Health advice was adhered to prior to any member of the travelling group falling ill, and that the on-ground Ulster Rugby Medical team took all actions possible to prevent the spread amongst players and staff during the week," the statement continued.

"Ahead of the upcoming Round 7 fixture versus Munster next Saturday, the travelling squad is due back in Belfast on Monday lunchtime and will start preparations later this week, together with the wider playing group, for the upcoming URC game. "

Head Coach, Dan McFarland, branded the situation "unprecedented".

And he added: “We came to Durban with our sights set on doing what, to this point, no other team in the URC has managed to do - the double in South Africa. This was going to be a huge challenge but exactly the type of challenge, as competitors, we look for.

“The win versus the Lions was a big physical challenge, and I was proud of the way the guys fronted. I am also proud of the way both Support Staff and Players have worked throughout these two weeks.

“We are used to travelling to South Africa and what it requires, and this level of sickness was unprecedented. Whilst staying in Durban, 29 players and 13 support staff were hit with BOTH E. coli and Norovirus. It’s disappointing, especially given how unwell our group was, that some chose to question the reasoning for our game to be postponed, as we have invested a lot as a group and an organisation in getting this fixture played.

“With players and staff now recovering, we are focused on getting home to start preparations for our upcoming Interpro fixture at Thomond Park.”