Our Game

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Theodore McFarland (second left) and team colleagues to their connection in Auckland

A professional Rugby Union team for an away match on 23. February have not still made at home.

Manuma Samoa here leave their island in the Pacific ocean for an away match in Perth, Australia, More Than 100 Days .

But on the way home they were forced to Quarantine in New Zealand and then were Stuck when their home-country closed its borders entirely.

In Auckland, The Team lived in a Church compound for two months, with 20 Players share a room.

Although they have now back in Samoa , you are half way through another two-week Quarantine -and the Players haven't seen their families.

"When we arrived in New Zealand , it was summer," The Team 's video-analyst Hari Junior Narayan says The Bbc . "When we left, it was Winter . "

Manuma-Samoa was The First game of the season on 14 March , The Team left Samoa on the 23. February.

they had a two-week Training Camp in Auckland, which The Game is played in Perth, then planned to fly home via Auckland, in the time of the preparation for a home game in Apia on 21 March .

played while the Teams in Perth, the Samoan government, an announcement is made.

From 08:00 on the 15 of March all travel to Samoa to spend from 33 countries for Two Weeks of self-Quarantine , before you set off.

Australia, the country was 33 on The List .

The Squad New Zealand and Auckland were allowed to enter The Compound , where they held their pre-match Training Camp was still present. But that is where your Good Luck to end.

On March 24, 26. March , "all international travel to and from Samoa with the plane has come to a standstill". The Team of the Quarantine doesn't end until March 30.

they were Stuck .

The management team, including coach and World Rugby Hall of Fame member Brian Lima (second left), Tuala Pat opens leading guests (center, arms crossed) and Hari Junior Narayan (center, with cap)

On the connection, 20 Players remained in single beds in a large room, while the management remained in smaller rooms.

"We had no privacy or anything," says Theodore McFarland, who stands six feet six inches tall. "They were snoring a couple of guys. "

But despite the snoring, he says, spirits remained high. The Team played bingo, most of the Evenings - with stakes of 50 cents or $ 1 - is Cooked out in the Samoan "umus" (stone ovens), and fit kept.

she turned her Living Room into a Fitness Studio, and, thanks to a bug in The Rules , were allowed to train outside - to New Zealand , lockdown went to Level 4 on the 25th of March .

"After the block, The Police came to Break Up our play touch [rugby]," said video analyst Narayan. "It was not a good view from the outside - But we were in our bubble. "

New Zealand has had to stage 4, rules of practice "Solitary or with whom they live". The officers stood in front of the closed gates, let the roommate to play.

"We were like A Family ," says McFarland, who also plays for the Samoan national basketball team

Despite living close, Narayan insists there were no clashes between the Players .

"Probably the largest disagreement when you are with a bingo," he says with a laugh. "Money was involved, so no one's trying to lose. "

And - what is perhaps the news of the British rugby-Players - surprise squad stopped the beer, Even though he was locked up for so long.

"We are not allowed drinks or not," says McFarland. "It is part of our rugby Culture , especially since we lived in a Church in the connection. "

After New Zealand lockdown at the end of April eased, a handful of cadre who lived locally were allowed to, But the Samoan-based Players Stuck .

The bingo and the umus, But the day-to-day monotony was not easy, The Team of Mental Health .

"We were in a connection, you see the same people Every Day ," says team manager, Tuala Pat opens leading guests. "I think this is what feels to be a prisoner. "

To make it worse, a glimmer of hope would arrive, only to be wiped out.

"they [The Authorities ] pushed it," says opens leading guests. "In the beginning, she said, maybe April [for a flight home], and you pushed it, 19 may, 22 may, then to 29. May. "

Finally, a week ago, the Players were able to leave the Papatoetoe connection. But the wait was not over yet - Samoa is one of The Few countries without a virus, and you are not taking chances.

So, after the player landed, they were on home ground, in the Quarantine for Two Weeks

Pre-match-training in Auckland

The Players and the management will remain in separate, isolated locations. Opens leading guests and Narayan are together in a hotel, for example, But McFarland is on his own.

Suddenly, the connection in Auckland doesn't seem so bad,

"We were like A Family ," says McFarland. "I think that made it easier for us, But now I have no one! Now I Wake up and...it feels crazy, it's Just Me . "

So the 50-cent bingo missing him? "Definitely," he replies.

opens leading guests also says, it a positive results were. from their epic Journey Home

"For me," he says, "The Friendship and camaraderie of the Players and the management is something very positive to the non-ideal situation. "

fortunately, a trip that began 104 days is almost over. In a week's time, the troops, freedom is going to cost, and see their families for the First Time since February.

"My Daughter is four months old," says Narayan. "The Last Time I saw her, she was a month, so I've missed much. "

The Game in Perth on 14. March - the Samoans Lost , seem, Must , like a long time ago?

"Sometimes," he replies, "we forget that, we played a game. "

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Source of news: bbc.com