Play-off hopes given a boost as Gloucester are given call-off win
GLOUCESTER Rugby were handed a huge boost to their play-off hopes after an independent panel awarded the club five match points from the cancelled Round 21 game against Worcester Warriors.
The Cherry and Whites started last Thursday in seventh place but the five additional match points moved them up two places to sit two points behind fourth-placed Exeter Chiefs who have played an additional game.
Worcester look to have avoided any censure following a Premiership Rugby review, after the Warriors were unable to field the required six match-squad front-rowers for the Friday, March 25 clash at Kingsholm.
“The match result shall be 20-0 in favour of Gloucester; and that, in respect of the match, Gloucester shall be awarded five league points,” read a Premiership Rugby statement.
Sport Resolutions formed an independent panel to decide the result of the match, chaired by Sir Gary Hickinbottom and also comprising Carol Couse and Jonathan Rennie.
Worcester’s lead rugby consultant Steve Diamond insisted that the Warriors had been hamstrung by Covid, but the panel’s judgement has rejected that claim.
“Regulation 4.4 (j)(iii) states: where the unfulfillment of a Premiership league match is due to the unavailability of players due to injury or unavailability (which is not related to Covid-19), the match result shall be 20-0 and five league points shall be awarded to the opposition club who could play the match,” read the Premiership Rugby statement.
“A reasoned decision will follow as soon as possible, and hopefully within the next week.”
Worcester acknowledged the decision in a short statement, but opted to reserve their position until after the full judgement is released.
“Warriors respect the process and decision made by the independent panel convened by Sports Resolutions,” read a Worcester statement.
“We shall await publication of the full reasoned decision before making further comment.”
Gloucester meanwhile welcomed the decision, but revealed they could yet seek compensation over the cancelled fixture.
“Gloucester Rugby is pleased to receive confirmation from the independent panel and Premiership Rugby that we have been awarded a match result of 20-0 and 5 league points as a result of Worcester Warriors cancelling our fixture at Kingsholm on Friday, March 25,” read a Gloucester statement.
“We are grateful to the independent panel who have been thorough in their investigations into this matter.
“Gloucester Rugby will continue to liaise with Premiership Rugby following the release of the full judgement to determine next steps in regard to compensation.
“We look forward to now turning our attention to key fixtures ahead of us in three competitions.”