Paris (AFP)

Bad timing for rugby: the resumption of competitions in Europe, interrupted since March, coincides with that of the Covid-19 pandemic, extending restrictions and complicating the task of the organizers, struggling with an overloaded schedule.

. Calendar: these English are crazy

The Premiership entered a seven-day, one-month marathon on August 14 to complete its season. The English hope to be able to play their final on October 24, at the same time as the late matches of the 2020 Six Nations Tournament. Before resuming the following season ... at the end of November, even before the end of the international window, exceptionally doubled this year.

The Pro 14, opposing Welsh, Scottish, Irish, Italian and South African franchises, also opted for an accelerated catch-up session, started on Friday: two days rather than eight, with only "derbies" to avoid transnational travel, before the finals (from September 5). And without the two South African franchises, which were only allowed to resume training at the end of July.

As for the following season, the resumption should take place on October 3, three weeks after the final, but the schedule still depends on the new format of the European Cup.

France has chosen to draw a line on the 2019-2020 season but with twenty-six days of the regular season, the Top 14 has no more leeway than its neighbors.

In an overloaded calendar, between the European Cup and the autumn window, the case of the French Stadium gives the leaders a cold sweat: more than a dozen players have tested positive for Covid-19 in early August, some have developed lung lesions and it is not certain that the National Rugby League (LNR) authorizes the Parisian club to appear against Bordeaux-Bègles on September 4 for the opening of the season.

Postponement or package? The LNR has not yet decided, but the Premiership, though: the club unable to field an entire team because of the Covid case will have lost the match 20-0, with an offensive bonus point for the opponent.

. Stadiums: behind closed doors against gauge

Here too, France has taken a different path from its neighbors. If the Premiership and the Pro 14 have opted for a closed session, the Top 14 clubs are doing everything to obtain a prefectural exemption to accommodate more than 5,000 people, the ceiling authorized until the end of October.

In mid-August, the boss of Premiership Rugby had said that the supporters could return "very soon" to the stadiums. As with the resumption of competitions, football should dictate the rhythm of rugby for the return of spectators, because its larger and more modern stadiums allow better management of flows.

The Premier League aims at the beginning of October for a return of a first contingent of supporters in the stadiums, which has also been the date of the government for several months.

Regarding the Pro 14, the announcement Thursday by Scottish Prime Minister Nicola Sturgeon of a gradual reopening of stadiums from September 14, but also of the possibility of conducting "test events" before that, made react the federation which would like to use the second match between Glasgow and Edinburgh, August 28 at Murrayfield to evaluate its device. According to the press, the gauge would be very modest, between 600 and 700 supporters, in a stadium that can accommodate 67,000. It is highly unlikely that away team supporters will be allowed access.

. Transport: don't panic?

The Pro 14, the European Cup and the autumn tests are threatened by a possible new border closure. London's decision to impose a fortnight on arrivals from certain countries, such as France, does not apply to professional sport, as long as certain protocols are respected and in particular regular screening.

With F1, football and cricket having resumed internationally, rugby does not seem to have too much to worry about.

Things are less clear on the side of Ireland, which imposed a fortnight on French and British nationals, while Leinster is in contention in the European Cup. The government has not yet exempted professional sport from this measure.

© 2020 AFP