Scarlets have been forced to forfeit their opening Heineken Champions Cup game against Bristol because of Covid-19 quarantine rules.
Some 32 of the Welsh region’s players are currently in Belfast at an assigned hotel after returning from a trip to South Africa, which was put on the government’s red list while they were there.
Scarlets said in a statement: 'We are disappointed to announce that we have forfeited our round one Heineken Champions Cup match against Bristol Bears, due to be played on Saturday, December 11.
'Following discussions between Scarlets management, coaches, players and medical and conditioning staff, the overwhelming feeling was that it would be a physical risk to select any of the 32 front-line squad members who are currently in quarantine in a hotel outside of Belfast.
'Since returning from South Africa, the travelling party have been in a strict 10-day quarantine, confined to their rooms with limited outdoor time a day without having been able to train as a group. That isolation period is due to end on Friday, December 10 – just a day before the Bristol fixture.
'At present, we have 14 fit Scarlets players training at Parc y Scarlets – seven senior players and seven development players.
'We would like to thank the Ospreys and Dragons for their offer of assistance, but, unfortunately, we have been unable to put together a match-day squad that can safely take the field against the Bears.'