Three matches canceled, seven postponed.
The two European Rugby Cups, the second day of which takes place from Friday to Sunday, took a lead in the wing: the organizers announced the postponement of the Franco-British meetings of the weekend, "
consequence of the new restrictions of travel between the United Kingdom and France which have been put in place by the French government
”.
Read alsoChampions Cup: weekend matches between French and British clubs postponed due to Covid-19
As a result, the matches of La Rochelle, Clermont and UBB, respectively in Bath, Sale and Llanelli, have been postponed. Just like the reception of the English from Bristol and the Wasps by the Stade Français and Toulouse respectively. In Challenge, Worcester-Biarritz and London Irish-Brive are concerned. A decision that does not concern the Castres Olympique which travels Saturday (9 p.m.) to Ireland to challenge Munster there.
On the OC website, Tarn president Pierre-Yves Revol was surprised that his team's match had taken place and that the whole of the second day of the Champions Cup had not been postponed. “
On the legal level, (the decision of the EPCR) can be argued because the risks of detaining people were not the same in the different countries. But it does not make sense from a sporting and health point of view. For the competition, its organization, its media coverage, what does this day mean, several matches of which have already been won on the green carpet, several have been postponed? And those, if they are played out, it can only be by changing the format of the competition while others are taking place, ours and those of the British between them.
"
“The French League is not in the majority in the EPCR and we have arrived at this absurd situation.
"
Pierre-Yves Revol
And the Castres leader, former president of the National Rugby League, added: “
The postponement of the whole day would have been more logical, understandable and clear.
I would add that in terms of health, the situation in Ireland today does not really differ from that in Great Britain.
So the difference in treatment is based on political and administrative considerations and not on health, and this is difficult to understand.
"
Pierre-Yes Revol argues that on Friday morning “
the French clubs were unanimous in requesting the postponement of all the matches, even if the round of 16 takes place in a direct match and no longer in a two-way trip. The ECPR board then met and decided otherwise under the influence of the English and the Celts, by postponing the matches between the French and the British and maintaining the others, finally those which were not already canceled for reasons. of Covid!
"
Health restrictions are not the same in Ireland as in the United Kingdom:
"For Ireland, we were tested before leaving but then we are not subject to the same regulations"
, he recalls.
And to assent: "
The French League is not in the majority in the EPCR and we have arrived at this absurd situation.
"
