Fresh fears for Champions Cup with French to make decisive call
THE Champions Cup has been cast into fresh doubt as organisers await the outcome of an emergency summit held in France on Thursday between competition organisers EPCR, French clubs and the French government.
And Six Nations organisers will also be nervously awaiting the final outcome of French deliberations as they ponder whether they want their professional rugby teams to continue their exposure to overseas teams.
The French government is concerned by the introduction of the new variant of Covid-19 into their country following Bayonne’s pre-Christmas visit to Leicester in the Challenge Cup.
Bayonne have since claimed they are withdrawing from the competition but Champions Cup organisers this week have sought to appease French concerns about the testing protocols which are undertaken by their English competitors.
It seems the EPCR will seek to mimic the routine testing which is de rigeur in the Top 14, but it remains to be seen whether the French government are appeased by these measures.
A final decision from the French government authorities was expected yesterday following the conference call.
“EPCR and the LNR (Top 14) participated in a meeting by video conference yesterday (Thursday) with representatives of the French government (Ministries of the Interior, Health and Sport, as well as the President’s Office),” said the EPCR in a statement sent to the Irish Independent.
“The objective of the meeting was to present the revised Covid-19 protocols for the fixtures in Rounds 3 and 4 of the Heineken Champions Cup and Challenge Cup.
“Updates to the protocol include the addition of PCR testing no earlier than three days before fixtures, in adherence to new French government directives.
“This change supplements the existing contact tracing, with all measures put in place to limit the risk of transmission and to allow the tournaments to proceed.
“EPCR expects to receive a decision from the French authorities shortly.”
French rugby chiefs are eager for the tournament to be completed but any proposal for a re-scheduling of the final two rounds of pool games is unlikely to be accommodated given time constraints.
The competition has already suffered significant disruption, with champions Exeter struggling to qualify after Covid cancellations, while next week’s clash between Leinster and Northampton is in doubt after the English side were forced to postpone their league game this weekend.
Plans remain in place for the Six Nations to start on February 6, but a senior source confirmed the situation was being monitored.
“We are following every governmental decision closely and will address accordingly. Border control and restrictions are a key area of attention,” said the Six Nations source.
The situation is more urgent for the Champions Cup however. EPCR officials made presentations to the French government and moved to reassure the Top 14 clubs by tightening up safety and testing protocols this week.
Six matches were called off in the last round of Champions Cup and Challenge Cup fixtures due to issues related to the pandemic.
Earlier this week, Montpellier owner Mohed Altrad called for the competition to be cancelled to allow clubs to focus on their national leagues, while Bayonne have already pulled out of their remaining Challenge Cup matches.
The French government confirmed on Thursday that the partial closure of the border with the UK would remain until further notice as a response to concerns about the new strain of coronavirus, and EPCR is expecting a decision on the final two rounds by tomorrow.
Decision
Simon Halliday, the chairman of EPCR, said the decision could have major implications for the structure of the remainder of the season.
“We are expecting to hear a decision within the next 24 to 48 hours,” he said.
“It is now down to the French government, but this has gone beyond rugby. If they call a halt, then I imagine it will have a significant impact in the coming weeks on other tournaments in rugby, for example the Six Nations, and other sports.”
The Lions board are due to meet at the end of this month to consider whether the tour of South Africa is able to proceed as scheduled in July and August, with options on the table including a postponement until next year or playing the tour behind closed doors.
The women’s Six Nations has been thrown into doubt because of the surging number of coronavirus infections too. No date has been announced for the start of this year’s competition. (© Daily Telegraph, London)