Daily Mirror (Northern Ireland)
RUGBY’S OUTLOOK IS BLEAK
SIMON HALLIDAY has warned that rugby union will need to rethink its season if the two European cups are suspended.
France has extended the closure of its borders to the UK in an effort to minimise the mutant strain of Covid-19.
The Macron government will today announce whether or not its clubs can compete in the remaining pool rounds on the next two weekends.
Halliday (below), chairman of European Professional Club Rugby, said the decision would likely have a profound effect on the whole rugby calendar.
He admitted: “If we do get shut down, if the French ministry hands down a decision that goes against the next two rounds, then it’s got broadebroader implications for the game this sseason. We’re ggoing to need to have a reset and take a look aat it from the bibigger picture persperspective.” Halliday’s concern is that a suspension of cross-border club competition could impact the Six Nations, due to kick off on February 6.
That would plunge the cash-strapped sport deeper into crisis and spark a debate as to whether the Lions tour should give up its summer slot to the Six Nations in the hope that crowds by then would be able to attend.
Montpellier owner Mohed Altrad has already called for the plug to be pulled on the Champions Cup, while Bayonne are refusing to fulfil their fixtures in the Challenge Cup.
The French government met with both its clubs and EPCR on Thursday.
Tournament organisers have updated their protocols in a bid to ease French fears.
“Updates to the protocols include the addition of matchday minus three testing, conforming to the new directives of the French government,” said an EPCR spokesperson. “These changes supplement the existing, meticulous contact tracing with all measures put in place with a view to limiting the risk of transmission.”