Australian lock Sitaleki Timani will not be a part of the Western Force squad for the forthcoming Super Rugby Pacific season.
The 35-year-old was unwilling to receive the Covid-19 vaccine and unable to obtain a medical exemption, which ruled him out of participation in the competition.
The virus has already hampered the start of the Super Rugby season. Over the weekend, seven Moana Pasifika players returned positive Covid-19 tests.
It means their season opener against the Blues has been postponed. The players are isolating, with their first Super Rugby outing set for next Friday against the Chiefs.
Timani spoke on his departure from the Western Force:
I would like to thank the Western Force, my teammates, and Rugby Australia for their support and understanding in what has been a difficult decision. With the help of the Force, I am still consulting specialists but unfortunately, with the season about to start, I understand the position it puts both the Western Force and Rugby Australia in. This is not how I wanted to end my time in Australian rugby, but I am thankful for the opportunity I had to pull on the Force jersey again and wish them all the best for the upcoming season.
The seasoned Aussie played eighteen times for the Wallabies between 2011 and 2013. He's spent the last seven years playing club rugby in France.
Sitaleki Timani has been released by the Western Force ahead of the inaugural @SuperRugby season because he is unvaccinated.“Sita remains unvaccinated due to his medical concerns and has been unable to qualify for a medical exemption.” @westernforce
— chris jones (@chrisjonespress) February 16, 2022
The Western Force also released a statement. "Sitaleki has been a great professional and valued member of the club since re-joining us last season."
"On behalf of everyone at the Force I would like to wish Sitaleki and his family all the very best for the future," chief executive Tony Lewis said.
It comes as the southern hemisphere countries have been hit with rising case numbers in recent weeks, but Super Rugby officials have tried to plan ahead.
The island teams of Moana Pasifika and Drua of Fiji are playing their home games in Australia and New Zealand away from their bases to limit travel.
Moana Pasifika and the New Zealand teams are based in Queenstown in NZ early on. That's where the Pasifika squad are isolating at the moment.
In April, all the Super Rugby Pacific teams will enter a bubble of sorts and play a round-robin of fixtures in Melbourne.
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