On the occasion of the 2nd day of the European Rugby Cups, seven matches (five in the Champions Cup, two in the Challenge Cup) had been postponed due to travel restrictions between France and the United Kingdom due to the health crisis. This concerned the matches of La Rochelle, Clermont and UBB, respectively in Bath, Sale and Llanelli. Just like the reception of the English from Bristol and the Wasps by the Stade Français Paris and Toulouse. In Challenge, Worcester-Biarritz and London Irish-Brive had also been postponed.
From then on, there was the puzzle of knowing when to replay these meetings in an ultra-busy schedule.
According to information from
RMC Sport
, the EPCR, which organizes the European Cups, has decided that these matches will end, on the green carpet, in a draw for all the teams concerned.
A decision inevitably badly received by the French formations.
The English clubs were campaigning for a lost match on the green carpet for the Top 14 teams ...
Thus the Stade Toulousain, which could hope for a better victory at home. Or Thomas Lombard, the CEO of Stade Français Paris. “
Too bad that a postponement decision results in a draw. The clubs which received are therefore doubly sanctioned, sportingly and financially
, ”he told L'Équipe. It could have been worse. According to British media, English clubs were initially pushing for this to be a lost game for French clubs. When you think about making your law on a European competition ...
Incidentally, we must expect recriminations from some clubs. In fact, this decision only applies to postponements due to the rules put into force by the various governments. The Pau-Saracens, Montpellier-Leinster and Racing 92-Ospreys matches are therefore not concerned. The three French clubs retain the 5 points of the 28-0 victory awarded on the green carpet, the opposing teams having declared many cases of Covid-19 in their workforce.
New problems arise for the 3rd and 4th days of the continental games, which must take place this weekend and the next.
According to British media, English clubs and Welsh franchises have announced their intention to refuse to come to France, refusing to comply with the health rule in force in France which imposes 48 hours of isolation when coming from the United Kingdom .
The puzzle continues ...