Sale call-off sparks fury
Sale accused over positive tests Premiership finale left in limbo
PREMIERSHIP rugby bosses were facing a fierce backlash after they postponed Covidhit Sale’s crucial clash with Worcester – leaving rugby’s Super Sunday in chaos.
Sale had reported 16 positive cases and after hours of talks the game was postponed until Wednesday. Rival clubs were furious and one official said the outcome had ‘tarnished the competition’s integrity’.
ENGLISH rugby’s Super Sunday was left in chaos last night after Sale Shark’s Covid-hit finale was postponed until Wednesday following government intervention.
Crisis meetings were held from 7am and the decision was made alongside Public Health England in light of 16 positive cases in Sale’s squad.
Worcester were informed of the delay just before 3pm and rival clubs were left furious as the Premiership climax was brought to its knees. One official said the outcome had ‘destroyed the competition’s integrity’, with Northampton subsequently forfeiting their game against Gloucester following exposure to Sale’s players.
Bristol are chasing the fourth play-off spot with Sale and lock Dave Attwood questioned the Sharks’ integrity. ‘Don’t get me wrong... I’d be devastated if 16 of our squad tested positive. But I’d have to look at our processes and conduct... it doesn’t seem fair on all the other teams, staff, players and families that are bearing responsibility,’ he tweeted.
Today’s final-round fixtures were set up as a shoot-out to decide who from Bath, Bristol, Sale and Wasps would join Exeter in next week’s play-offs. However, the scheduling has now been left in limbo.
Following conflicting statements from Sale and Worcester, Premiership Rugby CEO Darren Childs finally confirmed the decision: ‘In light of the unprecedented situation facing Premiership Rugby, we have been forced to postpone the match.
‘Our priority is the health and well-being of everyone involved, and we won’t compromise this. But as this match has such a critical bearing on deciding the Gallagher Premiership Rugby champions, we wanted to do everything we could to play it.
‘The team at Premiership Rugby has been working around the clock to come up with a solution and we’d like to thank Public Health England for their co-operation.’
Sale were informed of the positive test results at 2.45am on Friday, with South African stars Faf de Klerk, Rohan Janse van Rensburg and Akker van der Merwe understood to be among the cases.
Friday’s midday team announcements were subsequently delayed by 24 hours as Sale scrambled to pull together a 23-man squad.
The club’s request to register retired pair Sam Tuitupou and Neil Briggs was turned down, yet coach Steve Diamond succeeded in assembling a makeshift squad by Friday night. However, Worcester’s management subsequently expressed concerns about the safety of the fixture, with 70-year-old director of rugby Alan Solomons and diabetic full-back Chris Pennell both high risk.
Meetings with lawyers, doctors, owners and government officials were held early yesterday morning as the l eague l aunched an ‘urgent review’.
Worcester were offered the chance to forfeit the game but instead agreed on a postponement, which could leave Sale with just two days to recover for a potential semi- final on Saturday. Sale must also fulfil a number of conditions before the rescheduled fixture, including further tests, track and trace and a temporary ban on recruitment.
Meanwhile, Northampton received details of Sale’s positive tests on Friday, before determining which players would be forced into isolat i on following Tuesday night’s game at Franklin’s Gardens. The club’s video analysts spent hours studying footage of close-contact exposure and determined four front- row forwards were at risk.
Northampton were already suffering a frontrow injury crisis and were left with no option to forfeit the game for a 20-0 defeat, leaving them with just two fit front-rowers.
CEO Mark Darbon said: ‘As a result of a large number of positive Covid-19 tests at Sale, a number of our playing squad are required to self-isolate following close contact during our game against Sale on Tuesday evening. Specifically, this has acutely impacted our front row — an area where we were already severely depleted owing to a series of injuries.
‘As soon as we were aware of the situation, we asked for permission to register loan players beyond the normal deadline 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 of coronavirus at another Premiership club has left us with no viable option other than to forfeit.
‘So far, none of our players are symptomatic and, where required, continue to follow all guidance to isolate.’
The outbreak will also have a knock-on effect on Eddie Jones’ England training squad, which is due to be announced tomorrow. The head coach will only be able to select players from Harlequins, Gloucester, London Irish, Leicester, Saracens and non-isolating Northampton.