'He has embarrassed himself' - Wayne Pivac on Josh Adams as player apologises 'unreservedly'
Wales boss Wayne Pivac says wing Josh Adams has “embarrassed himself” by breaching Covid-19 protocols.
Adams is suspended for Wales’ first two Guinness Six Nations games against Ireland on Sunday and Scotland six days later due to his infringement. He has also been released from head coach Pivac’s training camp.
Adams attended a gathering with his immediate family present on Sunday – the day after the full Wales squad were released from camp ahead of their Six Nations opener – and they linked back up at their bio-secure training base on Tuesday.
“He has embarrassed himself, he has had to leave the team and he will do his penance at home,” Pivac said.
Pivac admitted that Wales are keeping “fingers and toes crossed” for a second successive round of 100 per cent negative pre-Six Nations coronavirus tests.
“It came to our attention yesterday after training,” he added. “As soon as it came to our attention, we spoke to the player and he was upfront and honest and realised the mistake he had made.
“It was at a family member’s home. It was a very quiet celebration. As far as I am aware, there was no alcohol involved.
“It has breached team protocols, it has breached the Six Nations protocols and obviously the lockdown rules.
“We’ve been through a thorough education process with the players and the management. From our point of view, it put others at risk potentially, so it was dealt with by way of suspension.
“Everybody had been tested. The results came through this morning, and we had 100 per cent negative testing.
“We’ve got testing again tomorrow (Thursday), and those results should come through tomorrow night or Friday. So fingers and toes crossed that those are negative as well, in which case Josh will rejoin the squad on Monday.
“The next stage is to get the second lot of testing done, which is already in place. If that comes through negative, then I think we are all in the clear.”
Adams, who was the top try-scorer at the 2019 World Cup in Japan, said: “I would like to apologise unreservedly.
“When out of camp, at the weekend, I made an error of judgement. I attended a small gathering of immediate family to celebrate a family milestone.
“It was wrong to do this. I am aware that everyone needs to follow the rules, and being in the public eye I have a responsibility to lead by example and I’ve fallen short on this occasion.”
Adams would have been expected to start the Ireland match in Cardiff, but it looks likely that the wing slots will be filled by George North and Louis Rees-Zammit when Pivac announces his team on Friday.
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Adams, provided he is given the all-clear, will rejoin the Wales squad next Monday, but only to help his colleagues prepare. He will not be eligible for selection against Scotland.
Pivac said: “I don’t want to downplay anything here, but he (Adams) has been upfront with us, he has made an error in judgement and he is very remorseful.
“I think the message went out at the start of the competition as to how we would deal with any breaches. We’ve dealt with it exactly how we said we would. That should be a lesson to everybody.
“We have to treat these guys as adults, which they are. They are professional rugby players. It’s a very, very long time to lock people away in a hotel.
“Everybody came back really refreshed and with 100 per cent negative results from our testing, so I think we have been very good.
“There is this one breach, and it’s very unfortunate. Everyone in the group is disappointed.”
Comments on RugbyPass
I don't know why peoplenare upset here. If foreign fans think they are poor for their clubs and back it up with stats then it's probably true. Snyman would have been a legend in the NH if he was fit though. He just transforms Munster into a winning machine. Pollard is 100% the most disappointing one and his win rate outside world cups gives a good indicator. For all his clubs his average win rate is around 52%, inbetween world cups for the Boks it's 55%. Compared to other elite flyhalves who have 70%+ win rates for their clubs. If anything Manie is a far better investment if you looking for a flyhalf given that when he is on the pitch teams on average win 76% of games.
44 Go to commentsWhich captains were not human?
2 Go to commentsIt left him open to savage sledging most memorably POMs ‘Sh1t McCaw’ comment which prompted a national NZ meltdown. Cane was later substituted in that game. He had some redemption in the RWC quartfinal against Ireland but unfortunately he will be remembered for torpedo-ing his team with that red card in the final with NZ already 12-3 down.
2 Go to commentsThere should be a smaller number of teams cut off to play finals after the regular season, of course. However, with all due respect, the Crusaders aren’t playing well enough to even make that cut. They may have a late rally, if they can get some key players back from injury, but this is still a speculation as it stands. They will still have to rely on other results going their way too - their season is now entirely out of their control.
10 Go to comments1 week for two cynical and dirty plays? Absolutely pathetic punishment. He should’ve at least received 2 weeks - 1 week per trip. The guy is a cheating moron and liability. He should go back to league.
2 Go to commentsTest rugby is different level Some players are just big time players when the stakes are high they play better. The boks often lost to AUS on tour as they wanted to beat AB. Even at school level this is the case where some guys play better in tough games.
44 Go to commentsLet’s hope he misses more than just the Force game or the Reds won’t get very far in the finals.
2 Go to commentsThanks Nick. I’m looking at the other 7 options in Australia and they don’t seem to be close behind Fraser at the moment? Even before reading this I thought he was well ahead. A random one - Slipper and Allalatoa seem to be getting well beaten in the scrum. I can’t remember this happening often before. Is it a technique/teamwork issue or are their bodies finally past it?
32 Go to commentsNZ is now entrenched in Div 2 of womens rugby. Canada would be thrashed by the likes of France or England. Europe are Div 1, with massive competitions, massive money…
2 Go to commentsBlackadder dies not deserve selection. He has not played enough games. Finau is just better. Kaino's replacement at Blindside On form TJ should be the starting 9 .
129 Go to commentsThe difference is Cotter..
6 Go to commentsThey can’t handle the level of comp in the NH. Pollard was a complete waste at Montpellier - and was the backup 12 when he left. Kitschoff was stealing his paycheque every week at Ulster,- getting absolutely rinsed by backup THs in the URC. There is a reason all the Boks go to Japan - they don’t have it in them to be able to compete. And yes, they won the RWC. Where Barnes and O'Keeffe were the direct reason for that tragedy occurring.
44 Go to commentsTrouble with Jones is he has so many impractical innovations. Kemeney wasn't good enough in any position for top level test rugby. I like how Vern has Papalii playing. He's always had the workrate when in form, although I'm not sure that he quite has Cane's mongrel.
32 Go to commentsPut those results on the old CV and send it in to the crusaders bro.
1 Go to commentsJust go with a top 6 system where the top 2 teams go straight to the semi-finals and the other 4 teams fight it out for the other 2 semi-final spots.
10 Go to commentsIt’s a shame that Baxter wasn’t nominated for DoR of the season. what he did is more impressive than McCall imo
1 Go to commentsSeveral boks said during World Cup they play so hard to give people back home hope. As an Englishman the Springboks Captain’s life story is an inspiration which should give us all hope and inspiration. Rather like that other great South African, Nelson Mandela
44 Go to commentsFox News, Tucker Carlson, Jordan Peterson and Joe Rogan? Yikes.
1 Go to commentsThat is harsh though. Messi has/had a reputation for trying to keep his feet and keep dribbling for goal. Many of his brethren were the histrionic divers but not him.
2 Go to commentsMcReight is certainly one of the first picked. He’s going to be the glue, a Wallaby with some rugby IQ and the everywhere man for the Wallabies.
32 Go to comments