Euro Competitions Suspended
By Saint Ted
January 11 2021
EPCR have today announced that the Heineken Champions Cup and the Challenge Cup have been suspended
EPCR and the Ligue Nationale de Rugby took part in a meeting by audio conference last week with representatives of the French ministries of the Interior, Health and Sport, as well as of the President’s office.
Notable updates to EPCR’s COVID-19 protocols were presented to the French authorities, including the addition of PCR tests no earlier than three days before matches in the tournaments, conforming to French government guidelines and supplementing the existing, meticulous contact tracing measures put in place with a view to limiting the risk of transmission.
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.
While respecting all further directives by governments and local authorities, and prioritising the health and welfare of players and club staff, EPCR, in conjunction with its shareholder leagues and unions, remains committed to trying to find a solution which will enable it to resume and complete the tournaments as soon as practicable.
EPCR will be making no further comment at the present time.
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Quote:LeicesterSaint
It's a slightly double edged sword - more time for those with injuries to get fit and those who were playing but with the usual aches and pains to refresh but then also time to get out of match fitness and the rust to set in. Personally I'd have preferred to play games to try and build/retain some momentum but I can't see any amendments to the Prem schedule at least in the short term as I'm sure it's a nightmare logistically in terms of TV, ground access/sharing rights etc etc.
Seems not too hard for French and Pro14. Prem rugby dithering and it’s all a bit hard so we’ll have a 2 week break! Amateur hour again, they really are incompetent. With no crowds it really should be fairly straightforward and given the French have been threatening this for some days should have had a plan in place. Wasn’t having a go at you LeicesterSaint.
Get prem games played asap, and use any time found by doing so to actually play games that have at present been scored by the pools panel.
Does the arrangement on pools panel results allow for games to be played later?

Quote:I think this is a good idea. Likely not possible this coming weekend, but perhaps the weekend afterwards. As a doc, the more sports that play the better for my business! But this season was never reasonable considering the high number of games and the physical stress on the players. Every break for the players, though not us, is a good thing.chappers_saint
Bring forward the prem games and have a break during the 6N. A month of no games for Saints cant be good
Quote:Santiago
My reaction is make hay while the sun is shining.
Get prem games played asap, and use any time found by doing so to actually play games that have at present been scored by the pools panel.
Does the arrangement on pools panel results allow for games to be played later?
The games are listed as "cancelled" rather than "postponed", and I think I've seen that the Prem's covid regs explicitly don't allow for them to be re-arranged.
Here we go...
"No matches from Round 1-22 can be postponed, except within the same weekend, as that would lead to midweek Gallagher Premiership Rugby matches. So a match can be postponed from Friday to Sunday for example due to bad weather, but otherwise the match will be cancelled."
[www.premiershiprugby.com]
COME ON YOU SAINTS!
Church's Stand season ticket holder
EMRU Referee
Quote:shendyQuote:Santiago
My reaction is make hay while the sun is shining.
Get prem games played asap, and use any time found by doing so to actually play games that have at present been scored by the pools panel.
Does the arrangement on pools panel results allow for games to be played later?
The games are listed as "cancelled" rather than "postponed", and I think I've seen that the Prem's covid regs explicitly don't allow for them to be re-arranged.
Here we go...
"No matches from Round 1-22 can be postponed, except within the same weekend, as that would lead to midweek Gallagher Premiership Rugby matches. So a match can be postponed from Friday to Sunday for example due to bad weather, but otherwise the match will be cancelled."
[www.premiershiprugby.com]
Not surprised that 2 week break now being taken rather than trying to move premiership fixtures into next 2 weekends . Makes sense re national increase in virus cases / pressure on hospitals etc . Break for players etc .But looking forward difficult to see how last 2 rounds of European matches can be fitted in without future premiership matches being cancelled under premiership regulations as their are no free weekends . Within current regulations 2 rounds of premiership matches would have to be cancelled and all matches treated as draws ! European cups and premiership rapidly turning into a farce this year .
On a wider stance, a break from pro sports with teams of people moving around the country coming in close contact, where there is an increasing prevalence of the virus spreading both in the prem and the country as a whole might be for the best, both from a perception point of view and a practicalities view.
[www.theguardian.com]
Quote:The shape of both this season’s European club competitions is set for a radical makeover with the group stages poised to be abandoned and the Champions Cup and Challenge Cup proceeding straight to a 16-team knockout phase.
Quote:Matthew
Could be an update coming on the European competitions:
[www.theguardian.com]
Quote:The shape of both this season’s European club competitions is set for a radical makeover with the group stages poised to be abandoned and the Champions Cup and Challenge Cup proceeding straight to a 16-team knockout phase.
A nonsense but would not surprise me as it will be impossible for premiership to reach agreement with all premiership clubs to cancel 2 premiership rounds in either Feb or March to facilitate the 2 postponed European fixtures. Whoever wins European Cup this year will probably have to put a tarnished tin star on their shirts . Micky Mouse win .
