Tonga's opening match at the Oceania Women's Rugby Championship has been cancelled after a player was reported to have suspected symptoms of measles.
The Oceania Women's Rugby Championship doubles as a World Cup qualifier. Photo: Oceania Rugby
Six countries are competing at the regional event in Lautoka, which doubles as a qualifying tournament for the 2021 Women's Rugby World Cup.
Tonga were due to open their tournament against Australia A this afternoon but the match has now been scrapped and declared a draw after a member of the Tongan side was yesterday reported to the Fiji Ministry of Health and Oceania Rugby to have suspected symptoms of measles.
The Ministry has advised the tournament organisers and medical officials to adhere to the Fiji Public Health Act and to follow the required testing and quarantine processes to prevent any widespread contamination.
That process will take 72 hours following the initial test on Sunday and may also determine the result of Tonga's second round match against Samoa on Friday.
A member of the Tonga women's rugby team was reported to have suspected symptoms of measles. Photo: Oceania Rugby
Samoa declared a state of emergency at the weekend, closing all schools and cracking down on public gatherings, after several deaths linked to a measles outbreak that has spread across the Pacific.
In a statement, Oceania Rugby said "ensuring the safety and welfare of all players is paramount".
The other first round matches between Samoa and Papua New Guinea and Fiji and the New Zealand Development team will go ahead this afternoon, while an updated draw for the second round will be confirmed and released later today following the results of the initial blood tests on Sunday.
