Tigers’ European adventures will not resume until autumn
CHALLENGE CUP QUARTER-FINALS PUSHED BACK
LEICESTER Tigers’ European Challenge Cup quarter-final will not be played before September, according to the BBC Sport website.
The last eight matches of both the Challenge Cup and European Champions Cup had been due to take place from April 3-5 but were postponed because of the coronavirus pandemic.
It now seems likely the quarterfinals of both competitions will be delayed until the autumn after the French government banned all sport for the next four months.
Six French teams are involved in the knockout stages of the competitions, which organisers European Professional Club Rugby are still hoping to complete.
Irish sides Leinster and Ulster as well as English teams Saracens, Northampton and Exeter are all due to play in the Champions Cup last eight.
In the Challenge Cup, Leicester and Bristol from the Gallagher Premiership have qualified for the knockout stages along with two Welsh clubs, Scarlets and Dragons, and Edinburgh.
The finals of the two competitions had originally been scheduled to take place in Marseille next month.
If the competitions are now completed in September or October, it would have a knock-on effect on the 2020-21 tournaments, which are due to begin on October 16.
French Prime Minister Edouard Philippe said on Tuesday that his country’s 2019-20 sporting season was over as he announced plans to ease France’s coronavirus lockdown on May 11. Earlier on Thursday, it was announced that French rugby union’s top two divisions – the Top 14 and Pro D2 – would be abandoned for the season.
The decision could set a precedent for the English Premiership, which is working towards restarting in July, and the Pro14.
Bordeaux Begles are currently leading the Top 14, eight points clear of Lyon.
The league winners are usually decided via semi-finals and finals, but the league’s organisers are yet to announce whether any club will be named as champions.
Unlike their English counterparts, the French clubs do not want to resort to playing without crowds, and with mass gatherings banned until September, the focus will now be on trying to start the 2020-21 season on time.
The Premiership and Pro14 are in a difficult situation, and will be feeling the pressure.
While the clubs are in desperate need of the TV money that would come with behind-closed-doors matches, there are numerous hurdles to overcome to make this happen.
Outgoing Glasgow coach Dave Rennie warned this week of the strain it will put on next season’s domestic scene if the current campaigns do not get finished until the end of the summer.
The next Australian coach believes the season should be called off and Leinster declared Guinness Pro14 champions.
Champions Leinster have won all 13 games and sit on 61 points in Conference A, 20 clear of Ulster and 14 more than Conference B leaders Edinburgh.
Rennie said: “We have seen other comps just reward the team that’s leading.
“It’s hard to argue that Leinster, unbeaten all year, miles in front of the competition, it’s hard to not just award them the comp.”