1872 DERBY FALLS VICTIM TO CORONA
A double blow for Warriors as Lyon awarded 28-0 Cup win
GLASGOW have been dealt a Covid double whammy.
First, the Warriors were forced to call off next weekend’s league game against Edinburgh then they were handed a 28-0 defeat for being unable to play against Lyon in the Champions Cup today.
The derby had to be postponed after four Warriors players tested positive. It should now be replayed early in the new year.
As things stand the EdinburghGlasgow return fixture at BT Murrayfield on January 2 will go ahead as planned. The four players who tested positive are not being named by Glasgow.
A club statement said: “Glasgow Warriors have consulted and sought the support of Scottish Rugby’s Threat
Management Group over the postponement of the game.
“In addition, having considered all the available evidence, the Pro14 Rugby Medical Advisory Group has deemed that this fixture cannot go ahead as scheduled.”
The game against Lyon, due to kick off at Scotstoun at lunchtime, had to be cancelled earlier this week because 20 Warriors were forced to self-isolate after last week’s opponents Exeter reported they had positive Covid cases. Glasgow’s four positives announced yesterday were from that group of 20.
Pro14 games can be replayed once a suitable date is found but Champions Cup fixtures cannot.
Tournament organisers EPCR set up a committee to make a ruling on the Glasgow-Lyon match and last night they announced they had awarded the game to the French club.
Their statement said: “It was decided that as Glasgow Warriors were unable to safely field a matchday squad due to the unavailability of a significant number of isolating players, Lyon were awarded five match points on a scoreline of 28-0.
“EPCR would like to emphasise that blame was not considered a factor during the deliberations.”
Following on from last week’s 42-0 loss to European champions Exeter, the Lyon result ends the Glasgow’s hopes of qualifying for the Champions Cup quarterfinals. Warriors declined to comment on the EPCR decision.