French ban pushes Cup games back to September

THIS season’s European Champions Cup and Challenge Cup quarter-finals will not be played before September after the French government banned all sport for the next four months.

The last eight of the competitions, involving six French teams, were due to take place from April 3-5.

But they had already been postponed because of the coronavirus pandemic.

Organisers European Professional Club Rugby still want to complete this season’s competitions.

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, Welsh clubs Scarlets and Dragons, Scottish side Edinburgh and Premiership teams Leicester and Bristol have all qualified for the knockout stages.

The finals of the two competitions had originally been scheduled to take place in Marseille next month.

If the Cups are now completed in September or October, it would have a knock-on effect on the 202021 tournaments, which are due to begin on October 16.

French prime minister Edouard Philippe said on Tuesday the 2019-20 sporting season was over as he announced plans to ease France’s lockdown on May 11.

On Thursday it was announced that French Rugby Union’s top two divisions – the Top 14 and ProD2 – 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 semifinals and finals, but the league’s organisers have decided there will be no title winners this season.