Postponed European rugby matches cancelled amid future uncertainty
BATH, ENGLAND - JANUARY 09: Andrew Kitchener of Worcester Warriors claims the lineout over Charlie Ewels of Bath during the Gallagher Premiership Rugby match between Bath Rugby and Worcester Warriors at The Recreation Ground on January 09, 2022 in Bath, England. (Photo by Dan Mullan/Getty Images)
All postponed matches from round two of the Heineken Champions Cup and Challenge Cup have now been cancelled, while uncertainty hovers over the remainder of the group phase.
It has been decided to record the five Champions Cup fixtures and two from the Challenge Cup as 0-0 draws.
Following the French government’s decision to impose quarantine on all visitors from Great Britain, some European rugby fixtures could not be fulfilled in December.
With quarantine being imposed instantly, European rugby games could not be played in a neutral location whereby no quarantine was needed to be imposed.
The results of the following Round 2 fixtures are recorded as 0-0 draws with two match points awarded to each club:
Heineken Champions Cup
Bath Rugby v Stade Rochelais
Sale Sharks v ASM Clermont Auvergne
Scarlets v Union Bordeaux-Bègles
Stade Toulousain v Wasps
Stade Francais Paris v Bristol Bears
EPCR Challenge Cup
Worcester Warriors v Biarritz Olympique
London Irish v CA Briv
The same safety measures imposed on travellers to and from the UK still threaten the final two rounds of the pool stage despite exemptions being secured for what is termed the “pursuit of an economic activity”, relaxing the rules for players, coaching staff and officials.
Clubs travelling to France, however, are concerned about the quarantine rule, which requires negative Covid-19 tests to leave isolation. Any positive PCR or antigen test would lead to a longer quarantine period in the country.
