Ex-bournside and Cheltenham College pupil’s England chance Sport

» THE Gallagher Premiership match between Gloucester and Northampton was cancelled due to a number of Saints players self-isolating following the previous Tuesday’s clash with Sale.

Northampton had an insufficient number of front-row players to fulfil the fixture and Gloucester were awarded a 20-0 victory and five league points - meaning that Gloucester are set to qualify for next season’s European Champions Cup as they finish seventh in the table.

Darren Childs, chief executive at Premiership Rugby said: “When we embarked on Rugby Restart back in August we said from the outset that the health and safety of everyone involved with Premiership Rugby was our priority.

“We completed eight of the nine rounds of Gallagher Premiership Rugby without losing a match so it is with great regret that we make this announcement today.

“We understand and fully sympathise with Northampton Saints’ position. They are in this position due to no fault of their own, but unfortunately they cannot fulfil the fixture.”

Northampton expressed “deep frustration” at being forced to forfeit, adding that their request to register loan players in order to complete the fixture had been denied.

The club said in a statement: “We asked for permission to register loan players in order that we could attempt to complete the fixture.

“We were advised that this dispensation will not be granted. We therefore have no option to bring in additional players as cover.

“We are extremely disappointed that our season has ended this way; an outbreak at another club has left us with no viable option other than to forfeit.”

Sale’s match with Worcester was also forfeited by Sale on Wednesday morning, meaning they miss out on a top-four place with Bath pipping them.