Rugby team face quarantine--Singapore's men lost all their games in Hong Kong

BBC World Sport Last Updated:  Tuesday, 1 April, 2003, 08:03 GMT 09:03 UK

Singapore's rugby team will be quarantined after returning from the Hong Kong Sevens tournament to prevent the spread of a deadly flu-like virus.

The 26 players from the men's and women's teams showed no signs of suffering from Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (Sars), but the Singapore Rugby Union took the step as a precaution.

Sars has killed more than 50 people around the world, including four people in Singapore, and infected at least 1,400 others.

MYSTERY BUG

At least 57 people dead and 1,550 cases in 13 countries Originated in southern China Spread by international travellers

Virus forces teams home

"It's just to be safe. There are no signs at all that they are sick," a rugby union spokeswoman said. The group will be isolated together in one area, she added.

Singapore's men's side lost all their games at Hong Kong's annual international rugby union event.

The women's team won a plate trophy. England beat New Zealand to retain their Hong Kong Sevens title on Sunday.

England claim Sevens title

The spokeswoman said the Singapore Sevens rugby tournament, scheduled for 26-27 April, will go ahead as planned.

The Singapore Sevens, like the Hong Kong tournament, is part of the World Sevens Series circuit.