Rugby: Disease threatens All Blacks historic match against Samoa

Over 4000 people in Samoa have contracted chikungunya - a virus for which there is no vaccine or treatment - since November. Photo / NZPA

Rugby officials wary of Cup-bound players contracting harmful virus

It's not often the All Blacks can be accused of running scared but there are genuine fears over July's historic match against Samoa in Apia following an outbreak of a mosquito-born epidemic.

Over 4000 people in Samoa have contracted chikungunya - a virus for which there is no vaccine or treatment - since November. The illness leaves its victims bedridden with a high fever for up to two weeks and suffering muscular and joint pain.

The Herald understands a former All Black recently contracted the disease while on holiday in Samoa, sparking concerns about player welfare and possible disruption to Rugby World Cup preparations. The July 8 match in Apia is just 77 days before the All Blacks begin their title defence against Argentina in London.

The potential impact of the epidemic was "definitely on the list" of concerns ahead of the historic Apia match, New Zealand Rugby Players' Association boss Rob Nichol said.

"Everyone who needs to know knows about it and they are monitoring it," he said.

The New Zealand public did not need to worry that key players might be put it harm's way so close to the World Cup, Mr Nichol said.

"People they can trust are looking at it. They can't do more than that at this stage. It is more how we deal with it and we have got a bit of time."

New Zealand Rugby would be guided by official governmental travel advice and there was no suggestion the match was under threat, chief executive Steve Tew said.

"We are not going to do anything that is inadvisable but right now New Zealanders are free to travel to and from Samoa," Mr Tew said.

A well-placed source in Samoan rugby said the All Blacks' concerns were valid. As well as the former All Black he knew of a European-based Samoan player who had caught the disease after returning home for a funeral.

"It is really, really debilitating if you get it," he said. "As a professional athlete you can lose a lot of weight and strength and match fitness in two weeks. For the All Blacks that game is two months before the World Cup. So it's a valid concern."

The chikungunya outbreak is just one of a number of concerns held by New Zealand Rugby about the Apia fixture. Officials have expressed reservations about the state of Apia Park and are understood to be dissatisfied with the quality of the hotel that will accommodate the world champions.

The possibility disgruntled Samoan players may boycott the match also cannot be discounted. A planned boycott of a match against England at Twickenham in November was called off following pressure from World Rugby (formerly the IRB) that included a threat to ban Samoa from the World Cup and Olympic sevens tournaments.

Two high-ranking SRU officials have recently stood down from their posts, and negotiations are under way between World Rugby, the SRU and the Pacific Island Players' Association. The players want a timetable in place for promised SRU reforms.

Mr Tew confirmed the NZRU had a contingency plan if the match fell through. "We always have contingencies for every circumstance but our strong desire is to play in Apia and right now I am confident we will be."

Chikungunya

• Surfaced in Africa in 1950s and has spread to parts of Asia, Europe, and the Indian and Pacific Oceans

• Reported in Samoa last year, with over 4000 cases recorded by January

• Virus transmitted by mosquitoes

• No vaccine to prevent or medicine to treat the virus

• Symptoms include fever, joint pain, headaches, muscle pain, joint swelling and rashes