MORE TIGERS GAMES CALLED OFF
CHALLENGE CUP TEMPORARILY SUSPENDED OVER NEW COVID STRAIN
LEICESTER Tigers face playing once in six weeks after their next two matches against French clubs in the Challenge Cup were called off last night.
Top 14 clubs, including Tigers’ next opponents Bayonne and Brive, have been withdrawn from the competition by the French government because of the new strain of Covid19.
This means Tigers’ next competitive game will be the Gallagher Premiership round seven fixture against Sale Sharks at the Mattioli Woods Welford Road on January 30.
Both the Challenge Cup and the Heineken Champions Cup have been temporarily suspended, organisers confirmed last night.
European Professional Club Rugby (EPCR) said it had “no choice” but to postpone all matches scheduled for the weekends of January 15-17 and 22-24.
However, EPCR aims to resume and finish the tournaments “as soon as practicable”.
Tournament chiefs hope two rounds of Heineken Champions Cup and Challenge Cup pool games on the weekends of January 15-17 and 22-24 can go ahead at a later date as authorities deal with the impact of a new strain of Covid-19.
EPCR said in a statement: “Against the backdrop of the recent detection of a new strain of coronavirus, the French government has directed that French clubs postpone their participation in EPCR’s tournaments for the month of January, both for matches scheduled in France and for those due to be played in the United Kingdom and Ireland.
“On the basis of this directive, EPCR had no choice but to temporarily suspend the pool stage of the Heineken Champions Cup and the preliminary stage of the Challenge Cup.”
In December, Toulon pulled out of their Champions match with the Scarlets on safety grounds, while Bayonne have also threatened to withdraw from the Challenge Cup.
As a result, EPCR has updated its protocols in a bid to allay French fears and to continue the tournaments.
Following the temporary suspension of the European competitions, Premiership Rugby has announced a two-week, mid-season break.
Premiership Rugby chief executive Darren Childs said: “The welfare of everyone involved in Premiership Rugby is crucial to us and this break in the season gives us the chance to hand some much-needed rest to our hard-working players, management, staff and match officials.
“The Gallagher Premiership Rugby season will return – as scheduled – on Friday, January 29 when Bristol Bears host Bath Rugby live on BT Sport.”
Meanwhile, Tigers have moved into the top half of the Gallagher Premiership after being awarded four points for their cancelled match against Northampton Saints. Steve Borthwick’s side were due to play at Franklin’s Gardens on Saturday but the match was called off due to a Covid-19 outbreak within the home side’s camp.
A Premiership Rugby Panel comprising Premiership Rugby chairman Andy Higginson, chief executive Darren Childs and rugby director Phil Winstanley ruled that Tigers would be awarded four points and Saints two, with the result of the match being deemed 0-0.
The latest ruling means that Tigers have been awarded six points due to games cancelled because of Covid19 relater matters. The latest award takes them to 15 points, placing them sixth after six rounds.