After the first two days of the Six Nations Tournament, the continental competition will take a break next weekend.
So far, no case of Covid-19 has been deplored.
Except this week, the sanitary bubbles put in place within each selection will be temporarily stopped.
At the same time that the French players will have the right to leave the health bubble around the XV of France to join their families for four days, the Scots, their future opponents on February 28 at the Stade de France, are also authorized to leave their team for a few days before returning to their base camp at the weekend and being tested again.
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XV of France: the health bubble will burst
According to information from the
Guardian
, some players of the XV du Chardon could, according to the needs of their franchises, be aligned in Pro 14 (ex-Celtic League) this weekend.
Same case with the Welsh.
Star player of the Scottish team, the opener of Racing 92, Finn Russell, will remain in the Highlands because of the "septaine" measures in force by the French authorities.
“Finn won't come home on weekends when the Tournament is over.
With the seven days of isolation at the borders, that would have no interest, ”recently explained Laurent Travers, manager of Ciel et Blanc.
The English return to training on Thursday
At the same time, the English players - whom the French will face on March 13 at Twickenham (Matchday 4) - will also be released.
They will be back on Thursday at the XV de la Rose training camp.
They will therefore not be able to be fielded next weekend on the 10th day of the Premiership.
Among the posters for the weekend, Bath will host Gloucester, Exeter will challenge Northampton and the Wasps will travel to Leicester.
Fabien Galthié's players, for their part, will not have to play the 17th day of the Top 14.
When days 3 and 4 of the European Cups had recently been postponed due to the health crisis and the refusal of travel across the Channel dictated by the Ministry of Sports, the English clubs had not played in league matches, unlike to those of the Top 14 who saw it as a way to play postponed matches and advance a league day to avoid a duplication.
With this first spring break, the Tournament will find itself facing an unprecedented situation.
Players who find their family or - even more complicated - their club.
The risks of contamination with Covid-19 will be greatly increased.
With, in the event of positive cases, matches that could be postponed.
Shattering the great success of the competition so far ...
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Six Nations schedule and results