Whitchurch Rugby Club hit by skin disease outbreak

A SHROPSHIRE RUGBY club has been shut down and forced to call off all of its season opening games after an outbreak of a highly contagious skin disease.

It is believed the infection – thought to be impetigo – was brought into the Whitchurch club by a player returning from a summer holiday in the Far East. A dozen or more squad members are said to be affected by the condition.

The north Shropshire outfit's senior men's first team was due to start its Midlands One West league season with a trip to Birmingham club Bournville tomorrow.

But that game has been postponed by the Midlands Leagues Organising Committee and the North Midlands Rugby Football Association, along with all other matches involving Whitchurch's senior and colts sides.

Ron Giddings, chairman of the club, which plays at Edgeley Park, said: "It's possibly impetigo, but we aren't sure what it is.

"We've got a bit of it in the club and it's not fair for us to take it to other clubs.

"There's a dozen or more cases in the club at the moment.

"We don't want to take it to others and we don't know the germination period of it so all our matches are off until further notice.

"Hopefully it won't be too long before things get back to normal."

Experts say impetigo is easily transmitted among players of contact sports, with rugby players being among those said to be at most risk from infection with the condition.

The bacterial skin infection can cause itchy blisters on the limbs.

"It's an infection that can occur from time to time in schools but it has been passed around the players at the rugby club during training," said Paul Kaminski, chairman of the Midlands Leagues Organising Committee.

"It's a highly contagious condition.

"Any cut or graze can pass it on and obviously in rugby cuts and grazes are part and parcel of the game.

"It's as much for the protection of the opposition as for the Whitchurch boys that we have taken this decision," added Mr Kaminski, who has also had a long-standing association with the club – including a spell as chairman.

"We've had to shut the club down to give it a chance to clear up," he added.

By Tom Johannsen