New rules for games abandoned due to Covid

[Bloke in North Dorset]

From the BBC:

Premiership Rugby will no longer automatically award five points to teams when the opposition is unable to field a side because of coronavirus.

League bosses confirmed a four-point win will be awarded to the club able to name a side, with two points to the team forced to cancel.

The score will be recorded as 0-0.

"With Covid, we previously had a system which effectively attributed fault," said Premiership Rugby director Phil Winstanley.

"The problem we have with that is it's very, very difficult in the current landscape to say that was something that somebody's done wrong."

Winstanley added that there was "no science" behind the new system, but it was "the fairest way of dealing with this".

I'm not sure there's a fair way of doing it if, as we were told. Sale's problems were driven primarily by a false negative, hardly something they could control.

It could make this year's Premiership a bit of a lottery if teams get infections and miss games they might have expected a 5-point win or a losing BP.

Still, at least they're playing and with a vaccine in sight it might not last long. Its probably more important to get fans back than worry about the risk of games being missed.

[Neils]

At least they have set the rules out in advance (again) so there should be no confrontations ahead. Unless an unscrupulous club (maybe further north) decides they need two points!

[baldpaul101]

Its also worth reading the bottom half of the story (please don't drag this off into a Sarries bitch fest)

WhatsApps, emails & bank statements to be checked

Premiership Rugby has also confirmed the introduction of stricter measures over the breaching of salary cap regulations.

Last season Saracens were docked 35 points, fined £5.36m and later relegated for persistent salary cap breaches, but there was no means for Premiership Rugby to strip them of silverware the club had accrued during the disputed period.

The tougher measures, which follow an independent review led by government minister Lord Myners, provide an independent panel with greater scope for punishment.

This includes a level-entry points deduction of 50 points at the top end, which could be decreased or increased, and the power to relegate a club, remove titles or trophies and to return prize money.

There will also be increased investigatory powers to study players' tax returns and interview club officials.

Each year the champion club will undergo an extended audit, which will include the reviewing of club officials' emails, texts and WhatsApp messages and at least 50% of players' tax returns and bank statements.

Accountability will also be expanded to club officials - be they qualifying shareholders, directors, directors of rugby - right through to players and players' agents.

[DGP Wasp]

Not so much a Sarries bitch fest as a Prem Rugby bitch fest.  It's Sarries fault they cheated, but they may have been less inclined to do so if Prem Rugby had more robust measures such as these in place at the time.  At least it appears lessons were learned and hopefully it won't happen again.

[hookender]

Hmm 2 points for not turning up at Chiefs.

Could be the new bloodgate.(did everyone else see the french player hobble off at weekend with doctor confirming the scratch on knee was blood injury?).

[Horusthewasp]

Hmm 2 points for not turning up at Chiefs.

Could be the new bloodgate.(did everyone else see the french player hobble off at weekend with doctor confirming the scratch on knee was blood injury?).

My exact thoughts when I read about this revised system. 2 points or ‘nil point’ when you’re the heavy underdogs? Temptation could creep in ...

But to be fair it’s nigh impossible to put together a fool proof system. Let’s hope the T&Cs are comprehensive and robust.

[Shugs]

This could be Leicesters way of avoiding relegation without playing a game.

[hookender]

Go whole season unable to put team out, get 44 points - finish 8 th (last year 42 pts). Might even be a place in European cup.