Hull return to training with Catalans match set to go ahead
Hull’s Super League fixture with Catalans Dragons in Perpignan on Friday is set to go ahead after the club were cleared on Wednesday to resume training following a Covid-19 outbreak.
Last Sunday’s game at Warrington became the 20th Super League fixture to be called off so far this year, but the club have since reported only one positive outcome from two full rounds of PCR testing and that was for a junior member of the first-team squad.
A statement from Hull said: “Multiple Cases Group have agreed with the club that additional lateral flow testing will be undertaken in addition to the routine testing required by all clubs prior to travelling to France.
“Despite a number of players and staff being unavailable to participate in this weekend’s fixture, Hull FC remain committed to fulfilling the fixture against Catalans Dragons and the club is taking all steps within its power to prepare and field a team on Friday despite the challenges presented by Covid-19.”
Catalans are set to welcome back Tom Davies, Josh Drinkwater, Julian Bousquet and Sam Kasiano for Friday’s match with Hull.
Scott Taylor is named in the Hull squad for the first time in several months after recovering from his foot injury he sustained in April.
A quartet of Hull academy players also come into the squad, with Marcus Walker, Jacob Hookem, Joel Speed and Will Wallis all included.
Mahe Fonua, Marc Sneyd, Chris Satae and Mitieli Vulikijapani drop out of the squad, along with Jordan Johnstone who will serve his one-match suspension. Jamie Shaul and Jude Ferreira are also unavailable.
Catalans: Mourgue, Davies, Langi, Whare, Yaha, Maloney, Drinkwater, Dudson, McIlorum, Bousquet, McMeeken, Goudemand, Laguerre, Le Cam, Cozza, Chan, Kasiano, S Tomkins, Dezaria, Rouge, Franco.
Hull: Faraimo, Tuimavave, Reynolds, Taylor, Houghton, Ma’u, Sao, Cator, Lane, Fash, McNamara, Brown, Swift, Bowden, Scott, Walker, Hookem, Speed, Wallis.