If you had Australian Rugby in the “First Sport to get Swine Flu” pool…well, shame on you and your epidemic wagering ways.

Degenerate gambling humor aside, two players were forced to sit out an Australian rugby league match today and at least nine others were quarantined after a player tested positive for swine flu.

Gold Coast forward Ashley Harrison and St George Illawarra winger Darius Boyd were pulled from Monday’s NRL match on the Gold Coast as swine flu concerns gripped the league.

They were the only two players from the Gold Coast and St George Illawarra teams who were in camp with Queensland for last Wednesday’s State of Origin match. Bulldogs forward Ben Hannant, who was part of that Queensland team, remains the only confirmed swine flu case in the NRL.

All members of the Queensland Origin team have been placed in quarantine and will remain so for a further 72 hours unless otherwise directed by health officials (Swine flu fears lead to 11 players pulling out of Australian rugby match).

In vastly less important news, the Sydney Bulldogs won the match 28-18.

The Guardian reports that over the weekend the number of confirmed swine flu cases in Australia rose to over 1000 – tripling in the past week! Other teams- specifically, those with players who took part in the State of Origin game as teammate of Hannant – are taking similar precautions.

Hannant told the Melbourne Herald Sun that he is feeling better and expect to join the team tomorrow at the latest, and be ready to play on Friday.

Tweet This Post