Steve Borthwick is one of several members of the Leicester Tigers club, including players and staff who did not return to the club’s training ground on Thursday, December 31 when it reopened in preparation for Sunday’s Gallagher Premiership game against Bath Rugby. 

Borthwick and a handful of players and staff will not be present at Mattioli Woods Welford Road for the Round 5 fixture and will continue to isolate at home into next week. 

The club returned a small number of positive tests in the latest round of PCR COVID-19 screening programme and the decision has been made to ensure the safety and wellbeing of players and staff. 

All players and staff will be tested again, in the next round of the PCR COVID-19 screening programme, early next week ahead of the away game against Northampton Saints in Round 6.

Working closely with health authorities and Premiership Rugby, Tigers returned to training on Thursday under the guidance of Mike Ford, Aled Walters and Brett Deacon, assisted by Matt Smith and Tom Harrison, who will lead the side on Sunday at Welford Road.

The team for the match against Bath will be named today, January 1, at 12.00pm in preparation for the first game of 2021.