Paris (AFP)
The National Rugby League has almost ended the 2019-2020 season, burying the scenario of the summer finals, announced Tuesday the governing body after government announcements prohibiting "events that gather more than 5000 participants" before September .
"The office will discuss with the presidents of Top 14 and Pro D2 clubs, whose meeting is scheduled for tomorrow (Wednesday, Editor's note) afternoon, the impact of the principles presented by the Prime Minister on scenario 2 which provided for the organization final stages at the end of August to close the 2019-2020 season before the start of the 2020-2021 season, "explained the LNR in a press release, without specifying whether a champion would be designated.
Earlier today, Prime Minister Edouard Philippe had whistled the end of the game for professional competitions, suspended since mid-March due to the coronavirus pandemic.
"I want to clarify that major sporting events (...), all events that bring together more than 5000 participants (...) can not be held before September," said the head of government.
The LNR "took note of the measures specific to the sporting events registered in the deconfinement plan" and decided not to follow up on the scenario which envisaged a time to organize the final phases at the end of August.
The Sports Ministry had explained to AFP not to have closed the door with matches in August, behind closed doors, but this assumption does not favor neither the presidents of clubs nor of the League.
No final stages, no descents nor climbs therefore. This decision still needs to be validated by the LNR's steering committee, organized at a later date.
"The National Rugby League will present to the Ministry of Sports its proposal for a medical protocol, re-athletics, preparation and schedule for the resumption of competition in the coming days," added the NRL.
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