Decision may render two competitions largely meaningless
STANDPOINT
IT seems strange to be reviewing a match that never took place, Castres’ three players and an official testing positive for Covid-19 putting paid to the eagerly awaited European Challenge Cup quarterfinal at Welford Road.
Understandably, the French team and officials are unhappy with the decision, making the point that those three players testing positive (from a squad of 55) were not going to travel and that those travelling had been declared clear from the virus.
Castres went as far as to describe the lack of regulations on numbers leading to expulsion, and the overall decision-making process, as “amateurish”. This is hardly a new accusation for those who follow rugby union administration.
In truth, it would be incredibly galling to be eliminated from a competition in a committee room, rather than on the pitch.
Yet, trying to put oneself into a situation where the position was reversed, if Leicester had positive tests it would be understandable if the powers-that-be took the view that forcing a game to take place where the opposition would have to risk contact with a life-threatening disease just couldn’t be countenanced.
All we can have is huge sympathy for Castres, who are suffering from their own government’s failure to control the spread of the virus.
Many Tigers fan will be full of trepidation in the knowledge that, without significant controls on isolation, social distancing and other precautions operated by the club itself, Leicester could find themselves in exactly the same position next week.
The decision has set a precedent that has the potential to render the two European competitions largely meaningless. If three positive tests equal a forfeit, then probably one positive does the same.
At a time when all countries with clubs left in the competition are facing a second wave of infection, this is a hard rule to apply.
This may not be the only game cancelled and a showpiece final decided by the medical staff isn’t a great look for rugby.
Meanwhile, Tigers now travel to France, Toulon having narrowly beaten the Scarlets.
In truth, neither of those teams looked particularly better than even Leicester have looked in recent weeks, but of course the last time the Tigers won in France was in the dim and distant past. Toulon will start as warm favourites, but the Tigers have a chance.
This may not be the only game cancelled. A showpiece final decided by the medical staff isn’t a great look for rugby