THE CHAMPIONS CUP is set to be suspended for the next two weekends after a decision from the French government to prevent Top 14 clubs from taking part in the cross-border competition amidst the latest severe wave of the Covid-19 pandemic.
The42 understands that tournament organisers EPCR will postpone the fixtures due to be played on the weekends of 15/16/17 January and 22/23/24 January, which had been set to involve the four Irish provinces playing back-to-back European games.
The Champions Cup and Challenge Cup – which involve teams from France, the UK, and Ireland – are now in line to be pushed back to later in 2021.
On Thursday, EPCR met with the French Ministries of the Interior, Health and Sport, as well as the LNR – which represents the Top 14 clubs – and a representative from the office of French President Emmanuel Macron, amidst concerns over the alarming rise in Covid-19 cases across Europe and new strains of the coronavirus.
Bayonne reported positive cases of the so-called ‘UK strain’ of Covid-19 in their squad after playing against Leicester Tigers in the Challenge Cup last month and have since had to shut down their club temporarily.
The suspension of the EPCR competitions would raise understandable fears over the 2021 Six Nations, which is scheduled to get underway in just four weekends’ time, although that competition involves fewer teams.
For now, the suspension of the European fixtures this month leaves the Irish provinces without scheduled games over the next two weekends.
The42 understands that the Guinness Pro14 would hope to use the newly-available dates to play out fixtures that have been postponed this season. The Premiership and Top 14 clubs are set to do the same with some of their own postponed matches.
The gap in the calendar could see the Pro14 fixture between Munster and Leinster that was due to be played at Thomond Park on St Stephen’s Day rearranged for next weekend.
The inter-provincial clash was postponed last month but could now take place sooner than expected and would involve all the frontline Ireland internationals in what could be a huge derby game.
EPCR will now work towards rescheduling the remaining two rounds of Champions Cup and Challenge Cup pool fixtures.
The two-legged home-and-away quarter-finals are currently scheduled to take place on the first two weekends of April, but the Six Nations is due to be played between now and then, meaning there is suddenly a major squeeze on the rugby calendar.
An official announcement from EPCR reads as follows:
“EPCR is aware of a formal communication that has been sent by the French authorities to the Ligue Nationale de Rugby (LNR) this evening (Saturday, 9 January) regarding the participation of Top 14 clubs in the Heineken Champions Cup and Challenge Cup.
“No directive has been given, and the LNR has been asked by the French government for its position on protocols for its clubs playing in EPCR’s tournaments against the backdrop of the recent detection of a new strain of coronavirus in France.
“EPCR will now discuss this matter with the LNR as soon as possible before making any further comment.”
LeBron is definitely the best player in the NBA this year. Harden puts up great highlights and is unbelievably skillful but not a better player this year.
@kevcrowley: is that why Curry wipes the floor with him in the finals… you know, the part of the season that matters?
@Jonathan Nolan: curry wasn’t even Finals mvp , and in the finals the last two years it’s been pretty much 4 v 1 with a bit of Kevin Love and Kyrie last year
@Jonathan Nolan: curry can blow hot and cold beteeen quarters and have Kevin Durant or Klay Thompson take over scoring. James played every minute nearly and has huge defensive responsibility on top. No comparison with Curry
@kevcrowley: every minute??!! Is that why he was on the bench or sitting at the side of the clock for 20 minutes per game 2 & 3?
@Aidan Holden: is that Curry’s daily for having a team around him?
@kevcrowley: bottom line is LeBum James only has as many rings as Larry Bird, yet he’s been in almost twice as many finals. The guy has skills, but he’s a chump. At the end of a career it’s rings that are the legacy, and LeBum will be hard pressed getting another one
@Jonathan Nolan: do you think calling him LeBum makes you sound smart and reasonable?
@Jonathan Nolan: well in that case a ‘chump’ is the 2nd greatest player of all time
@Jonathan Nolan: your opinion on basketball is complete rubbish I’ve seen all the top players in the league play live and LeBron is superior than every single one of them
Instead of calling people bums take the time to actually watch them play basketball in the flesh before you talk
Your opinion is complete rubbish
@Aidan Holden: after Larry Bird and Magic Johnson? Aren’t you forgetting about Jordan?
@Barry McCarthy: No, would be the answer to that one Barry. It’s just my opinion. He’s the most over hyped player in NBA history. You are entitled to your own opinion. Fair enough
@Jonathan Nolan: MJ number 1 LBJ number 2
Should’ve won it in 2011 but This year Harden was a fair choice
@Ruairi Doyle: in 2011 he wasn’t starting and averaged about 10 ppg what?
4-0 says it all. And LeBum was the one with 4 x L’s against his name at seasons end
@Jonathan Nolan: weird
@Jonathan Nolan: 4-0 says absolutely nothing since its REGULAR SEASON MVP.