A situation that recalls the bad memories of last season. Due to travel restrictions between France and the UK, seven matches of the second day of the European Rugby Cups were postponed on Friday. While a few days before, other matches (especially those of Racing 92 and Montpellier) had simply been canceled. The restrictions took effect at midnight on Saturday and, under these conditions, Lyon made the trip to Newport on Friday to face and beat the Dragons. What to say, if not, of the displacement of Castres which went to challenge Munster in Ireland, a country not concerned by these restrictions but also struck by the spread of the virus. Totally inconsistent ...
Read alsoChampions Cup: "The postponement of the whole day would have been more logical", regrets the president of Castres
What led the Castres president Pierre-Yves Revol gave a rant:
“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 that is difficult to understand. ”
We will be able to adapt with great possibilities since there will still be 5 weekends between April 8 and the finals weekend in Marseille on May 27 and 28, 2022
Anthony Lepage, Director General of the EPCR
The main question that now remains unanswered is how and when these matches will be replayed in an already overloaded schedule. The EPCR is still looking for the solution. Thus, its general manager Anthony Lepage explained, in the columns of
L'Équipe
, that
“different options are available to us but it is too early to keep only one. We need to think about it and make a collective decision. ”
And to add:
“Today our priority is on the weekend matches which it was important to play in good conditions and with the strictest respect for the health and safety of the players.
We will be able to adapt with great possibilities since there will still be 5 weekends between April 8 and the finals weekend in Marseille on May 27 and 28, 2022. "
What about days 3 and 4 in January?
Several votes are now being raised so that these postponed matches are played in April, instead of the round of 16 first leg, and that the eighths are therefore disputed in a dry match. Why not… "
The EPCR will provide additional information as soon as possible and remain in direct contact with all clubs, leagues and other stakeholders,
" the European body said when the postponements were announced.
More worrying, what about the rest of the continental competition? Because already arises the question of the holding of the matches of the 3rd and 4th day of the European Cups which will come very quickly, the weekends of January 14 to 16 then the following one (January 21-23). Until then, it is difficult to see the restrictions being lifted between France and the United Kingdom. Do we take the same ones and postpone again?
In a little over three weeks, Toulouse must go to the Wasps in Coventry, Racing 92 to go to the Welsh Ospreys, La Rochelle to receive Bath, the Stade Français to go to Bristol, the UBB to welcome the Welsh Scarlets and Clermont to move to Sale on the outskirts of Manchester.
The new formula of the European Cups with a round of 16 round trip has already taken a lead in the wing.
The EPCR will have to quickly resolve this critical situation.
Which recalls, alas, the galleys of last season.