RUGBY: The announcement follows the request made by the Ministry of Sports to French rugby clubs not to participate
The EPCR “has no other choice but to announce (…) a temporary suspension” of the group stage of the two European rugby cups, the organizer announced on Monday after the government’s decision. French to ban Franco-British meetings “at least until the beginning of February”.
The 3rd and 4th days of the continental rugby competitions were to take place on the weekends of January 15th and 22nd. “The government wishes in fact primarily to fight against all risks of introduction” of more contagious mutations of the coronavirus and their “circulation on the territory”, specifies a letter sent by the ministry a little earlier in the day to the National League of rugby, on which French clubs depend.
The third and fourth days of the two continental competitions, the European Cup and the European Challenge, are therefore effectively postponed “both for matches organized in France and those taking place on British and Irish soil”.
Lyon was to receive the Scots from Glasgow while Toulouse was to go to England, to face Exeter, the title holders. Clermont had to face the Irish from Munster, Racing 92 the Harlequins.
