TORONTO — The Saskatchewan Roughriders and Toronto Argonauts will end their back-to-back series a day later than originally planned.
The Riders announced Thursday that the return game will be played Sunday night at Mosaic Stadium after 13 players and five staff members tested positive for COVID-19. The two teams were scheduled to meet on Saturday night, but after dropping a 30-24 decision to Toronto on Saturday in Wolfville, NS, the Riders were unable to practice on Tuesday or Wednesday.
The club said in a statement that it plans to train on Thursday.
“Having to move our game is a worst-case scenario for us and something we never want to do,” Roughriders president/CEO Craig Reynolds said in the statement. “We know our fans often plan to attend Rider games weeks and months in advance, and there can be a lot of travel and logistics involved in this decision.
“We really regret this, but we hope that by keeping the game on the same weekend and moving it to Sunday, our fans will still be able to enjoy Family Day at Mosaic Stadium.”
The Argos signaled earlier Thursday that the game would not go ahead as originally planned when it canceled practice and added that it was not for COVID-related reasons.
On Thursday, the CFL suggested the Raiders’ COVID-19 situation was improving.
“The postponement was caused by a number of positive tests for COVID-19 among Roughriders players and staff earlier this week,” the league said. “The situation has improved and medical officials are now confident that play can continue safely on Sunday.”
The Riders announced Wednesday that 10 players are still suspended after testing positive, but three more have been removed from the COVID protocol.
Jeremy O’Day, the Riders’ general manager/vice president of football operations, said players “at almost every position” were affected and the outbreak was a result of the team traveling on planes and buses and sharing hotel rooms.
The team took two days off after the Toronto loss, but canceled practices on Tuesday and Wednesday. O’Day added that the Raiders continue to follow the CFL’s COVID-19 protocols and remain in regular contact with the league regarding the situation.
The rescheduled game still gives Saskatchewan time to prepare for its July 29 home game against the BC Lions.
After Sunday’s contest, Toronto will host the Ottawa Redblacks on July 31.
It’s unclear whether Saskatchewan receiver Duke Williams and Toronto linebacker Eli Menser will play Sunday. Both were suspended for one game by the CFL for their actions last weekend in Nova Scotia.
Before that game, Williams took off Toronto defensive lineman Shaquille Richardson’s helmet and threw it at him. After the contest, Argos head coach Ryan Dinwiddie accused Williams of twice spitting in Richardson’s face _ in the pregame altercation and then later in the game.
Richardson received the maximum fine (half a game check) for his role in the incident.
Mencer was banned for abusive language towards an official during the match. There is no indication whether Williams or Mencer will appeal their suspension.
Saskatchewan will also be without defenseman Garrett Marino, who began serving a four-game suspension last week for a low hit on Ottawa Redblacks defenseman Jeremiah Masoli.
The Riders said they plan “almost all” of their regularly scheduled activities to begin Sunday. There was no indication of what events would not take place.
Fans with tickets for Saturday’s game will automatically be moved to Sunday, the club said, adding that “no action from the ticket holder is required”.
“We’ve had an unpleasant reminder that COVID-19 is still a reality in our lives, but we’ll be at our best when we play on Sunday night,” Reynolds said. “Family Day is one of my favorite games every year and I can’t wait for our fans to be there to cheer us on.”
This marks the first CFL game to be rescheduled this season due to COVID-19.
Last year, the Edmonton Elks had an outbreak that caused a game against Toronto to be postponed, which was eventually made up later in the year.
The 2020 CFL season was canceled due to the global pandemic.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published on July 21, 2022
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