Tigers trio tested in hepatitis scare

Captain Robbie Farah and winger Pat Richards have reportedly undergone tests for hepatitis A, amid fears the Tigers duo ate contaminated berries.

Wests Tigers players

Three Wests Tigers players will be monitored for hepatitis A after eating contaminated berries. (AAP)

Wests Tigers coach Jason Taylor is confident none of his players have hepatitis A, despite fears a trio of senior NRL players could have consumed contaminated berries.

The Tigers confirmed on Tuesday that three senior players had approached club management on Monday with concerns that berries they ate may have been contaminated.

Captain Robbie Farah and veteran winger Pat Richards were later named in news reports as two players who underwent precautionary blood tests for the virus.

Four frozen berry products were recalled this week due to fears they are linked to the viral disease, with 14 people - five in Queensland, five in New South Wales, three in Victoria, and one in Western Australia - contracting hepatitis A.

Taylor declined to name the trio of players but said they had shown no symptoms and the club had no confirmed cases of infection.

The players were tested on Tuesday morning and will be monitored closely over the next six weeks.

They will continue to train with the rest of the Tigers squad and will play in the club's final trial match against Cronulla on Saturday.

"It's really simple. A couple of guys have eaten some of the berries that have been recalled, and that's the end of the story," Taylor said.

"We're not overly concerned about it. We're just being really cautious. It's a smart move to make sure we are ticking all the boxes and all the guys are OK.

"We don't feel that is going to come to that point (of infection) but we are doing due diligence on it.

"They have been tested, we will get the results soon and then life will go on."

The players feared they may have consumed the contaminated products through fruit smoothies as part of a paleo diet brought to the club by Taylor since he took over from Mick Potter late last year.

Tigers doctor Peter Lorenzos addressed the Tigers playing group in regard to the matter on Monday and Taylor said they might not be the only NRL club affected.

"Chances are there are other players at other clubs that have eaten the berries, you guys just don't know about it," Taylor said.


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Source: AAP


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Tigers trio tested in hepatitis scare | SBS News