From The Times:
Will Kelleher, Deputy Rugby Correspondent,
English clubs may boycott their European fixtures this weekend if the French government continues to insist that teams isolate for 48 hours in the country before they play.
Newcastle Falcons are scheduled to play away to Biarritz in the European Challenge Cup on Friday, before Bath travel to La Rochelle in the Heineken Champions Cup on Saturday and Sale face Clermont Auvergne 24 hours later. However, The Times understands that all those fixtures are under threat.
The French government has granted exemptions for the matches to be played, as the clubs are deemed to be “in pursuit of an economic activity”, but at present the rules state that sides would need to isolate for two days before their matches.
If that regulation is relaxed, teams would be happy to travel, but that is uncertain at the moment before a government meeting set for Monday night.
With away trips costing clubs in the region of £75,000 each before those extra days are added, a 48-hour isolation is viewed as unfeasible. If the requirement is not dropped, it is believed that the Gallagher Premiership teams set to travel to France may decide not to go — in which case they will probably have to accept 28-0 forfeit losses, in another huge blow to the already beleaguered competitions. Before Christmas, seven games were postponed in the Champions and Challenge Cups in round two, after France closed its borders to UK travellers.
The logistics of fulfilling the fixtures in France are presenting a big stumbling block for English clubs. At present, the teams would need to travel across the Channel three days before their fixture, to allow for a day-two PCR test to be done in France. For Newcastle, for instance, that would mean flying on Tuesday in order to be out of isolation by Friday night.
European Professional Club Rugby (EPCR), the competition organisers, has clarified that teams would be allowed to train in their bubble in France during the 48-hour period.
However, the added complication is that if any players or staff were to test positive not only could they not play but that individual would have to remain in France for ten days.
With Premiership clubs collectively recording their highest numbers of weekly Covid positive test results over the festive period many English teams have players who have recently emerged from isolation. While they are now asymptomatic there are worries they have a high chance of testing positive on a PCR test despite numerous lateral-flow negative results.
Another issue is that if a club has South African players — as Sale and Bath do — they need to apply for separate Schengen visas, which may not be processed in time before their games.
With all those complications it is understood that English sides are all considering telling EPCR they will not travel to France, unless the 48-hour rule is dropped.
Some clubs may accept a forfeit result as preferable to sending an inexperienced side to France only to be beaten easily, especially with the threat of losing squad members to isolation if they test positive while in the country.
What may soften the blow for the English clubs is if they are awarded a 28-0 win for their round-two fixtures that were postponed in December. If that decision goes their way, with the EPCR accepting that the games cannot be replayed in a crowded calendar, they are likely to accept these forfeits as they would effectively even up pool points from the two scrapped rounds.
Behind the scenes, the clubs are hopeful that there will be clarity from EPCR on the outcomes of the postponed round-two fixtures before round three begins this weekend.
On Saturday, Newcastle director of rugby, Dean Richards, sounded his concern about the next European rounds. “We’re not sure where we stand with it all, and to be honest I’m not sure if we can go,” he said.
“There has so far been no relaxation from the French government regarding the 48-hour isolation requirement, and it’s very much up in the air. We just don’t know where we stand.
“We’ve heard nothing from EPCR other than a positive email which doesn’t actually clarify anything. There’s no clarity on isolation, no clarity on the testing, and all they’ve said is from the competition point of view it’s game on. But that’s not what the French government have said so far, and we just don’t know where we stand.
“The situation is compounded by having back-to-back games out in France, and there’s every chance we’ll go out there and end up living in France for the next three or four weeks. That might not sound bad to some people, but I don’t think they’ll be sending red wine and foie gras to our quarantine hotel room!”
For its part, the EPCR is hoping that the fixtures can be fulfilled. “EPCR is continuing to work with the Ligue Nationale de Rugby, as well as with the other leagues and unions, to seek improvements to the conditions which currently apply to UK clubs when they travel to France, and to French clubs returning from the UK,” their statement read.
“If the 48-hour isolation period happens to be maintained for matches in Round 3, clubs should be permitted to train during this time provided relevant Covid-19 protocols are observed.”
Topic: English clubs weigh up European boycott this weekend (Read 1249 times)
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